Veteran trader Peter Brandt identified XRP as a leading contender for real-world transactional adoption during an interview in May 2026. Speaking on the “Crypto Banter” podcast hosted by Ran Neuner, Brandt named the token as one of the strongest candidates for a functional payment network. The admission proved surprising to many in the digital asset community, given Brandt’s long history of public skepticism toward the asset and its supporters.
Brandt was asked during the segment to identify which cryptocurrency stood the best chance of becoming a widely used transactional network. “XRP probably is the best,” Brandt stated, though he grouped it with two other major projects. He noted that if an investor had to bet on a “horse” to become truly transactional, the primary choices would be XRP, Solana, and Ethereum.
The host, Ran Neuner, expressed immediate shock at the response. “I didn’t imagine that Peter Brandt would be talking about XRP, but I mean, you learn something new every day,” Neuner remarked during the session. A clip of the interview was shared on X by “Crypto Banter Clips” on May 30, 2026, quickly gaining traction among market observers.
Peter Brandt identifies XRP as lead payment candidate
The shift in Brandt’s rhetoric is particularly notable because of his track record. As recently as December 2025, he described XRP and silver supporters as the “most madly obsessed perma-bulls on earth.” He has previously labeled the community as uneducated and biased, even stating in October 2025 that XRP was the last asset he would want his family to inherit.
However, his latest comments suggest a pragmatic distinction between his view of the community and the technical utility of the network. While Brandt continues to believe that many cryptocurrencies will ultimately prove to be “junk,” he acknowledges that a small subset has a path to practical use. This assessment comes as XRP speculative activity returns following a period of technical consolidation.
Brandt’s analysis of the token has not always been negative. In late 2024, he predicted a major price move if the asset broke above its 2021 peak of $1.96. The token eventually reached $3.39 by January 2025, validating his technical chart reading. Even in October 2025, while criticizing the “bulls,” he admitted the asset possessed a “purer long-term chart” structure.
Viable contenders for a transactional network
During the interview, Brandt narrowed the field of digital assets down to those he considers capable of supporting working payment systems. He highlighted three specific networks:
- XRP: Singled out as “the best” candidate for transactional efficiency.
- Solana: Listed as a primary contender alongside XRP for real-world use.
- Ethereum: Included as one of the three “horses” in the race for transaction dominance.
This narrow list reflects Brandt’s broader skepticism of the altcoin market. By limiting the field to just three assets, he is essentially dismissing the vast majority of the thousands of tokens currently in existence. This outlook mirrors recent shifts in the regulatory environment, such as when the CLARITY Act advances through legislative hurdles to provide more definition to the sector.
From skepticism to technical utility
For long-time observers, the irony of Brandt’s endorsement is clear. The trader has spent years “taking shots” at both the token and the people who hold it. In April 2026, he even engaged followers with a poll regarding where the asset might find support during a bear market, often maintaining a blunt and frequently bearish public stance.
But his interview with Ran Neuner suggests that even the most hardened critics are forced to weigh technical capacity against personal preference. If the goal of a digital asset is to move value quickly and cheaply across a working payment network, Brandt concedes that XRP’s design puts it at the front of the pack.
The market continues to react to these endorsements as the industry moves away from pure speculation and toward utility. While Ethereum remains a dominant force, Brandt’s inclusion of XRP and Solana as equals in the “transactional horse race” suggests a more competitive future for payment-focused blockchains. For now, the “clear winner” for the veteran trader is the one he spent the most time criticizing.