Is XRP Backed by US Gold? Bold Speculation Sparks Debate

Speculation has emerged regarding a potential connection between XRP and the gold reserves at Fort Knox. Edoardo Farina, founder of Alpha Lions Academy, proposed a theory suggesting XRP might be linked to U.S. gold holdings. However, there is no verified evidence to support this claim.

Farina suggested that XRP could be associated with the gold stored at Fort Knox, a high-security U.S. Army facility in Kentucky. The vault reportedly holds approximately 147.3 million ounces of gold, valued at around $425 billion.

🧵 $XRP: The Digital Gold Backed by US Reserves? 🚨 MUST READ

𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐗
Let's begin with Fort Knox, a highly secured United States Army installation in Kentucky. Recently, @elonmusk suggested a livestreamed tour of the vaults, stating:

"There's like 5000 tons of gold… pic.twitter.com/X2GPAw0HwO

— EDO FARINA 🅧 XRP (@edward_farina) February 26, 2025

These assertions arise during talks regarding the possible utilization of XRP in a suggested digital asset reserve under former President Donald Trump. Although the concept has generated discussion, no formal announcements validate any connection between XRP and the U.S. gold reserves.

Gold Reserve Verification and Musk’s Proposal

Farina referred to recent discussions on verifying Fort Knox’s gold holdings. He pointed out that Elon Musk, now leading the Department of Government Efficiency, proposed a live-streamed inspection of the gold vaults. Musk suggested this step would confirm that the gold remains untouched and has not been replaced with other materials.

Farina used this discussion to support his theory, implying a connection between XRP and U.S. gold reserves. However, he did not provide direct proof, and no official sources have linked XRP to Fort Knox.

Early XRP Wallet Names Raise Questions

Farina also pointed to XRP’s early history, noting that its first 32,570 ledgers were erased due to technical issues. He questioned whether this reset concealed deeper details, though Ripple has previously explained it as a standard adjustment.

Farina pointed to early XRP wallets that included “Fort Knox” in their names. One wallet, labeled “X.FortKnox.b,” originally held six billion XRP and was linked to Ripple. Another, called “X.Distributor.1,” once controlled 80% of XRP’s total supply. Between 2013 and 2017, large amounts of XRP moved to wallets named “X.Fort.Knox.2” through “X.Fort.Knox.9.”

He speculated that these wallet names could suggest a connection between XRP and U.S. gold reserves. However, wallet names in cryptocurrency are often arbitrary, and no official records establish any link between these accounts and Fort Knox.

Rosie Rios’ Role at Ripple Adds to Speculation

Farina also noted that Rosie Rios, former U.S. Treasurer whose signature graces U.S. currency, was eventually appointed to Ripple’s board of directors. She directed the gold reserves at Fort Knox when she was Treasurer.

This link was called ‘shocking’ by him, and he suggested this could be one component of a larger XRP-related strategy. However, there is no official link between her involvement with Ripple and her past role in the U.S. Treasury. She does not have any records according to XRP, of participation in the development of XRP in the early stages.

No Formal Verification of a Link

Farina additionally tracked initial XRP transactions, which included a transfer of 1.84 billion XRP across various wallets. One transfer contained a transaction memo with a combination of letters and numbers, which he proposed might be an encoded message. Nonetheless, there is no evidence that it contains any concealed significance.

Although there are theories linking XRP to Fort Knox, no official confirmations from Ripple, the U.S. government, or any regulatory agency establish a connection. The assertions have not been substantiated, and there is no recorded proof connecting XRP to gold reserves in the U.S.