Peter Brandt Still Thinks $XRP Is a “Dumb Coin,” But Took a Softer Jab This Time 🪙

Veteran trader Peter Brandt reaffirmed his long-standing skepticism of $XRP, dismissing Ripple's banking partnerships and recent ecosystem progress as insufficient to change his outlook. Speaking in an interview, Brandt drew a sharp line between Bitcoin and $XRP, calling Bitcoin primarily a "store of value" while characterizing $XRP as a transaction-focused asset. He directly referred to $XRP as a "dumb coin," a phrase that captured his core argument: utility in payments does not automatically translate into token appreciation.

Brandt anchored his critique in $XRP's supply structure, noting that questions remain over the total supply and whether it will expand in the future. He acknowledged that $XRP can be moved cheaply and efficiently in transactions but compared it to the U.S. dollar, which is highly usable in commerce yet not expected to appreciate simply because of that utility. "Just because something can be used in transactions doesn't automatically mean it has to be more valuable," Brandt said, framing this as his central reservation about $XRP. He added that the real uncertainty is when, or whether, transactional use will convert into durable economic value for the token.

The trader also proposed a categorical framework for cryptoassets, separating store-of-value coins like Bitcoin from payment-oriented tokens like $XRP, and placing application-building networks like Ethereum and Solana in their own bucket. Within that framework, Brandt spoke more favorably about $ETH and $SOL, describing Ethereum as a "good asset" and saying he believes both Ethereum and Solana have the potential to reach higher levels. He reiterated that Bitcoin remains the largest position he prefers to hold in his cryptocurrency portfolio.