XRP Leader Dave Portnoy Regrets Selling Before 60% Rally

XRP has surged significantly in recent weeks, leaving media mogul Dave Portnoy expressing deep regret after selling his holdings prematurely. Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and once a vocal proponent of XRP, recently admitted to offloading his stash just two weeks before the cryptocurrency soared by more than 60%.

In a video shared on social media, Portnoy laid out the details to his 3.7 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). According to his brief message, the decision to sell came after being advised by an individual who had previously recommended the purchase of XRP. Although this unnamed advisor initially endorsed the token, newfound concerns prompted Portnoy to exit the investment—an action he now openly regrets.

“Even though I’m the leader of the XRP army, I sold it,” Portnoy confessed, alluding to the irony of his position. His remorse is clear, as he described his emotional state with the word “crying,” lamenting his miss on potentially massive gains.

Portnoy’s disappointment is understandable when considering the numbers. Since his exit, XRP has climbed from around $2.00 to a high of $3.65—a more than 60% increase. This meteoric rise has translated into missed profits worth millions of dollars. At the current level of $3.62, XRP is now just 5.5% away from its all-time high of $3.84, originally recorded in January 2018.

While the sell-off may appear sudden, Portnoy’s journey with XRP was anything but impulsive. Over the past several months, he had amassed a sizable position in the digital asset. Back in December 2024, during a live broadcast, he disclosed holding $1.3 million worth of XRP, alongside a separate $1.5 million investment in Bitcoin. His confidence in XRP seemed to grow early this year when he purchased another $1 million worth in February.

At the time, he voiced optimism about the token’s future, proclaiming that XRP had a realistic chance of surging tenfold in value. In contrast, Portnoy showed skepticism toward Bitcoin achieving similar returns in the near-term. The contrast in potential, from his perspective, made XRP the more attractive gamble.

In May 2025, Portnoy elaborated further on his investment thesis in a post published by The Crypto Basic. He speculated whether XRP could be the “next Bitcoin,” viewing the asset as a potential game-changer. Despite this strong conviction, his final decision to liquidate came just as the tide was turning in XRP’s favor.

The timing could not have been worse. Following Portnoy’s exit, XRP embarked on a bullish run that pushed its market capitalization above the $200 billion mark for the first time. As of yesterday, that value increased further to hit $215 billion, cementing XRP’s renewed relevance in the market.

The mixed emotions of one of XRP’s most high-profile advocates underscore a frequent dilemma in the volatile world of cryptocurrency investing—when to hold on and when to let go. As Portnoy’s example shows, even seasoned investors can misstep and miss out on transformative gains.

Related: XRP Price: $12M Max Pain for Bears

Despite his recent decision, Portnoy remains a symbolic figure within the XRP community, often dubbed the “XRP army.” Whether he will reenter the market or take a more cautious approach moving forward remains to be seen. But for now, his experience serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the unpredictable nature of crypto markets—and the risks of acting too swiftly on external advice.