Former Ripple director Matt Hamilton refutes a daring neighborhood declare that XRP could possibly be gold-backed and attain almost $3,000 by 2026.
This got here after notable XRP neighborhood determine Baron Dominus stirred a dialog on X, claiming that XRP will likely be “gold-backed.”
Based on Dominus, this supposed backing would allow the worth of XRP to achieve $2,953 by Q1 2026. He even instructed a value vary of $10,000 to $35,000 could possibly be attainable as a part of what he referred to as an imminent “monetary shift.”
In the meantime, XRP is buying and selling round $2.80 in the present day, making the prediction a unprecedented leap.
Dominus’s declare attracted huge consideration, with many dismissing the outlook as an “insane idea.”
Furthermore, given the market implications of his projected $35,000 per XRP, some critics say he shows a scarcity of mathematical reasoning.
You Can’t Again XRP with Gold
As well as, former Ripple director and developer Matt Hamilton countered the assertion, specializing in the gold backing. “You may’t again XRP with gold,” he mentioned. “Sorry.”
His reply was a actuality examine amid the XRP neighborhood’s tendencies to prepare dinner up numerous theories to argue for lofty future value ambitions for the coin.
You may’t again XRP with gold. Sorry.
— Matt Hamilton (@HammerToe) September 28, 2025
Why Gold-Backing Is Unattainable
When one other commenter joked that “crypto goes brrrr,” Hamilton elaborated, saying that that is exactly why XRP can’t be backed by gold. “XRP can’t go brrrrr.”
Hamilton’s comment highlights a serious technical limitation: XRP has a set provide capped at 100 billion cash.
Not like fiat currencies, XRP can’t be minted on demand to match or characterize a gold-backed system. It lacks the elasticity essential to operate as a gold-backed asset, the place provide responds to modifications in reserves or redemptions.
Furthermore, XRP doesn’t want gold to derive its worth. As a substitute, it derives its worth from continued demand, adoption, utility, ecosystem progress, and hypothesis.
Hamilton’s refined reply highlights the distinction between the XRP Military hype and the way the XRP Ledger actually works. Basically, tying XRP to gold is simply not technically possible, a lot much less serving to its value soar.
Do Gold-Backed Cryptos Even Exist?
Nevertheless, gold-backed crypto belongings do exist within the crypto house, sometimes as a function of stablecoins. Gold-backed cryptocurrencies supply stability and safety in distinction to the volatility of typical cryptocurrencies. Just like gold ETFs, every token represents a set quantity of gold, redeemable for the bodily asset.
In June 2024, Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, launched aUSDT, pegged to the US greenback and over-collateralized by Tether Gold (XAUT). It’s backed by bodily gold saved in Switzerland.
In the meantime, in July 2025, The Crypto Primary reported that Tether shops almost 80 metric tons of gold price $8 billion in a non-public Swiss vault.
As of March 2025, gold makes up about 5% of Tether’s reserves, rivaling holdings of main monetary establishments like UBS.
Notably, Tether’s gold-backed token, XAUT, boasts a valuation of $941 million with a value just like gold at $3,818.40.
DisClamier: This content material is informational and shouldn’t be thought of monetary recommendation. The views expressed on this article could embody the writer’s private opinions and don’t mirror The Crypto Primary opinion. Readers are inspired to do thorough analysis earlier than making any funding choices. The Crypto Primary will not be accountable for any monetary losses.

