Key Takeaways
- Donald Trump named XRP, Solana and Cardano in his March 2025 cryptocurrency reserve announcement, triggering a market rally.
- His executive order ultimately prioritized Bitcoin while placing other cryptocurrencies under a separate US Digital Asset Stockpile.
- The government cannot actively purchase XRP for the stockpile under the existing order without additional executive or legislative action.
President Donald Trump once appeared to give XRP a major political endorsement, naming the Ripple-linked cryptocurrency among five digital assets proposed for a US crypto reserve.
But more than a year later, an important question remains: Does Trump actually support XRP, or was the announcement largely political messaging?
The answer lies in the difference between Trump’s March 2025 social media announcement and the executive order that followed.
While the president publicly named XRP, the administration’s formal cryptocurrency strategy established a clear preference for Bitcoin.
Why Did Trump Include XRP in His Crypto Reserve Announcement?
On March 2, 2025, Trump announced on Truth Social that his proposed US crypto reserve would include XRP, Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA).
He subsequently added Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), describing the two largest cryptocurrencies as central to the reserve.
The announcement triggered an immediate market reaction.
According to Reuters, the cryptocurrency market gained more than $300 billion in value within hours, while Bitcoin jumped over 11% and Ethereum climbed approximately 13%.
However, controversy emerged over how XRP entered the discussion.
In May 2025, Politico reported that a lobbying firm previously working for Ripple had helped craft Trump’s original crypto reserve message.
Trump was reportedly angered after learning about the firm’s Ripple connection.
The account raised questions about whether XRP’s inclusion reflected a carefully developed government strategy or outside lobbying influence.
Bitcoin Reserve vs XRP Stockpile: What Trump’s Executive Order Actually Says
On March 6, 2025, Trump signed an executive order establishing two separate government cryptocurrency holdings structures.
The distinction matters.
The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve holds government-owned Bitcoin obtained through forfeitures, with provisions for additional budget-neutral acquisitions.
The US Digital Asset Stockpile, meanwhile, covers other cryptocurrencies acquired through criminal or civil forfeitures.
Unlike Bitcoin, XRP cannot be purchased for the stockpile under the existing executive order without further executive or legislative action.
The order also does not explicitly name XRP, Ethereum, Solana or Cardano as mandatory holdings.
Instead, the stockpile’s composition depends on the digital assets the government legally obtains.
Treasury has discretion over managing those assets, including potential sales, whereas Bitcoin deposited in the strategic reserve is intended to remain held.
Is Trump Bullish on XRP, and Could the US Government Buy It?
Trump’s announcement demonstrated political recognition of XRP, but it did not establish a government investment commitment.
That distinction is especially important for XRP price predictions.
A government purchasing program could potentially create additional demand. Simply retaining confiscated tokens does not produce the same market effect.
As of October 2026, publicly available official information does not establish the existence of a dedicated federal XRP buying program or a verified total of XRP held in the stockpile.
For Ripple and the broader XRP ecosystem, regulatory clarity and institutional adoption may therefore matter more than Trump’s original announcement.
The administration’s crypto-friendly direction could support industry development, but it does not guarantee XRP purchases, price appreciation, or preferential treatment.
The bottom line: Trump publicly backed XRP’s inclusion in a proposed crypto reserve, but his implemented policy gives Bitcoin a fundamentally different status. Until Washington authorizes XRP purchases or establishes a more explicit policy, claims that the US government is actively accumulating XRP remain unsupported.
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Dr. Guneet Kaur is a senior editor at CCN.com and a Science Fellow at Exponential Science. She is a fintech and blockchain expert with extensive experience in digital finance education, blockchain ecosystems, and cryptocurrency markets. She has worked with global media such as Cointelegraph, as well as education and blockchain platforms, to design and lead strategic content and learning initiatives. As an educator and assessor for top-tier executive programs, she bridges real-world fintech trends with academic insight.
Dr. Kaur is also a published researcher and peer reviewer across fintech and data science journals, including Financial Innovation Journal and International Journal of Big Data Intelligence and Applications. Her work spans data-driven analysis, Web3 innovation, and technical content development. With a strong foundation in both industry and academia, she translates complex financial technologies into practical applications, empowering learners, professionals, and institutions across the rapidly evolving digital finance landscape.
