Early Bitcoin Investor Claims XRP Is ‘About to Explode,’ Points to 96,700% Precedent — BigGo Finance

A viral street interview featuring a self-described early Bitcoin investor has reignited debate over XRP’s upside potential, after the man declared the token is poised for a dramatic breakout.

The clip, shared by cryptocurrency commentator John Squire on August 28, shows a private investor standing beside a red Maybach explaining that he entered Bitcoin in 2013 and held through 2019. When asked what comes next, he did not hesitate: “XRP’s gonna hit next.” In a follow-up remark, he added, “XRP is about to explode.”

Squire, who goes by @TheCryptoSquire on X, framed the encounter as evidence that those who profited most from Bitcoin’s historic run are now rotating their conviction toward XRP. The video has since drawn a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism across crypto social media.

The investor’s track record, as he describes it, spans one of the most extraordinary price movements in modern asset history. Bitcoin opened 2013 at roughly $13 and, despite multiple crashes and prolonged recoveries, reached $12,576 by mid-2019—a gain of approximately 96,700%. That six-year window is what the man says he capitalized on to build significant wealth.

What a Repeat Would Mean for XRP

XRP currently trades around $1.38. Applying Bitcoin’s 96,700% gain from the 2013–2019 period to that starting point yields a projected price near $1,335. While that figure is purely hypothetical, it aligns with forecasts from several analysts who have argued XRP could eventually climb above $1,000.

Note: Figures reflect the investor’s stated holding window for Bitcoin and a hypothetical equivalent move for XRP based on its current price.

Community Reaction Splits Along Familiar Lines

Supporters of the thesis point to regulatory clarity, institutional access, and the accelerating tokenization of real-world assets on the XRP Ledger as catalysts that could drive sustained demand. Some commenters also cited RLUSD, the ledger’s infrastructure, and broader adoption trends as reasons for optimism.

One user described the man in the video as a visionary, while another suggested he sees the same growth drivers that XRP advocates have long promoted.

Not everyone is convinced. Critics noted that XRP’s recent rally has already retraced some of its gains, with one commenter quipping that the asset is “exploding downward.” Others questioned the authenticity of the video itself, including whether the luxury car belonged to the man being interviewed.

The investor, for his part, is not a recognized analyst or public figure in the digital asset space. He presents himself as a private individual who benefited from early Bitcoin exposure and is now publicly endorsing XRP as the next major opportunity.

Squire has previously expressed bullish views on XRP, pointing to technical and market signals that he believes could usher in an altcoin cycle in which XRP outperforms major peers. The viral clip adds a human element to that argument—an investor who claims to have already lived through one generational crypto rally and is now betting on another.