‘Smartest Buy or Dumbest Bet?’ USA Today’s XRP Post Triggers Outrage

On Saturday, USA Today dropped a headline-grabbing article to its 5.1 million followers on X, declaring, “ XRP is the smartest cryptocurrency to buy with $500 right now.” The post quickly ignited chatter across social media, prompting a wave of hot takes from bitcoin die-hards and devoted XRP fans alike.

Crypto Twitter Melts Down Over USA Today’s XRP ‘Smart Buy’ Claim

There’s a lot of hoopla surrounding the Aug. 2 X post from USA Today, which featured a reprinted article by The Motley Fool’s Will Ebiefung. The headline that’s been making waves on social media reads: “ XRP is the smartest cryptocurrency to buy with $500 right now.”

Plenty of XRP critics jumped at the chance to slam USA Today, calling the article nonsense and brushing it off as fake news. The post drew sharp pushback from those who’ve long been skeptical of XRP.

“Smartest way to waste $500,” one X user quipped. Another chimed in, “I wonder if there was ever a faker news.” Some simply responded with memes. XRP supporters, on the other hand, were thoroughly entertained by the backlash. One fan reveled in the outrage, posting, “Let the cope begin.” Another XRP fan wrote:

“USA Today, thanks for pointing that out. People don’t sleep on XRP. Don’t listen to all the haters.”

Still, several critics doubled down, calling XRP a “scam,” while others warned, “never trust the media.” Unchained podcast host and crypto journalist Laura Shin weighed in, posting, “Ermg … this was just tweeted to USA Today’s 5.1 million followers. USA Today, you need crypto-literate journalists …” Her critique struck a chord with many, who echoed her concerns.

XRP fans, however, weren’t thrilled. When questioned about potential bias, Shin responded:

“I mean, the fact is that after 13 years, Ripple has barely any traction or volume.”

Shin wasn’t the only one to take issue with USA Today’s post. One critic pointed out that the article’s author, Will Ebiefung, previously hyped the token, the sandbox (SAND), back in 2022. In a separate Motley Fool article titled “Here’s My Top Cryptocurrency to Buy in February,” Ebiefung had singled out SAND as his pick.

The critic backed up their point by sharing a chart showing SAND’s decline—from around $4 in Feb. 2022 to just $0.2577—highlighting what they saw as a poor track record for Ebiefung’s crypto picks.

Others were even more vindictive in their responses to USA Today’s XRP post, taking shots not just at the article but at the publication itself for amplifying what they viewed as a misguided recommendation.

One person said:

“This appears to be unlicensed financial advice promoting XRP as “the smartest cryptocurrency to buy with $500 right now” – without any disclaimers or disclosures.”

The reaction to USA Today’s XRP post reveals just how polarized the crypto community remains when it comes to media narratives and investment advice. While some readers viewed the recommendation as a bold bet, others saw it as reckless clickbait—exposing a growing tension between mainstream outlets and digital asset skeptics who demand deeper scrutiny.