He asked each driver a simple question: “Do you hold XRP?” The experiment ran through what appears to be Ontario, Canada, and Jakey captured every answer on video posted July 20.
Most drivers either had never heard of XRP or told him they don’t own any crypto at all. Only on the 25th ride did he hear a “yes.”
Jakey’s sample was small but clear. He hopped into 25 different rides and got mostly blank looks when he mentioned XRP.
Are uber drivers actually rich from XRP?
On ride number 25, Jakey finally met someone who said he bought the crypto at $1.67. It’s not clear whether that driver bought when the coin hit 1.67 in mid‑2021 or during the November 2024 rally.
What mattered to him was utility. He said he plans to hold XRP for the long haul because of how it moves money across borders.
Jakey has been a vocal skeptic. In December 2024, when the crypto asset traded at $2, he opened a short position and funneled his gains into Solana‑based meme coins.
XRP then climbed to $3.4 in January 2025, fell back to $2, and settled around $3.5 as of this week.
Based on reports from the altcoin community researcher SMQKE, almost 100% of retail investors still don’t know what XRP is, even as it breaks price records.
The current state of retail.
99% are oblivious to XRP, even as it breaks all time highs.
Retail investors are not rushing to accumulate utility tokens.
SMQKE argues that low awareness shows retail interest hasn’t caught up yet. At the same time, institutions have quietly added the altcoin behind the scenes.
On‑chain data hints at large transfers moving into wallets that belong to big players. That kind of accumulation can drive prices without any street‑level buzz.
The Uber‑ride test shows a big gap between price performance and public recognition. Asking 25 people isn’t a scientific survey, but it does highlight how few everyday users know about XRP by name.
For a clearer view of retail adoption, one would need broader polls, exchange‑level user stats, and more on‑chain analysis. Until then, the altcoin’s path into mainstream hands may still be at the starting line.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
