XRP entered a high-level discussion about the U.S. debt after Newsmax host Carl Higbie asked Vice President JD Vance whether the national cryptocurrency reserve could help offset the government’s liabilities. Vance did not address XRP directly or announce a new cryptocurrency policy, instead emphasizing economic growth and a proposed sovereign wealth fund.
Higbie Connects XRP to the National Debt
The exchange occurred during an Aug. 20 Newsmax interview covering the U.S. debt, economic growth and the Trump administration’s fiscal strategy.
Higbie noted that President Donald Trump previously discussed a cryptocurrency reserve involving bitcoin, XRP and several other digital assets. He asked whether the government had any plans to use those assets to begin offsetting the national debt.
The federal debt exceeded $40 trillion in August, according to Treasury Department data, increasing pressure on the administration to explain how it intends to control borrowing.
Vance did not respond directly to the XRP portion of the question. He instead discussed Trump’s proposal to establish a sovereign wealth fund that could make investments on behalf of the country.
Vance also referred to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s economic strategy, describing it as a plan to get the economy “growing faster than our debt,” according to the interview transcript.
He did not say that the government would buy XRP, use cryptocurrency to repay the debt or place digital assets in the proposed sovereign wealth fund.
No Change to US Crypto Reserve Policy
Trump named XRP, bitcoin, ether, solana and cardano when he first discussed a cryptocurrency reserve in March 2025, according to Reuters.
The executive order Trump signed four days later created two government holdings: a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile.
The Bitcoin reserve holds bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture. The digital asset stockpile holds other cryptocurrencies obtained through government seizures.
Although Trump previously named XRP, the executive order does not identify the token individually. It also does not authorize the government to acquire additional non-bitcoin assets without further executive or legislative action.
Nothing Vance said during the interview changed that policy.
The proposed sovereign wealth fund is also separate from the cryptocurrency reserve. The administration has not confirmed that XRP or other digital assets would be included in such a fund.
XRP Extends Rally Toward $1.70
XRP traded near $1.56 early Aug. 22 after climbing from approximately $1 at the beginning of the week. The token briefly approached $1.70 as trading volume increased.
The price rally began Aug. 19, before the Vance interview aired. The timeline does not show that the interview caused the initial increase.
XRP remained above its 50-period exponential moving average near $1.16 on the four-hour chart. Its relative strength index reached 88.78, indicating strong but extended momentum.
An RSI reading above 70 is commonly viewed as overbought. It does not guarantee a reversal, but it can signal an increased risk of volatility or profit-taking.
XRP/USD Four-Hour Price Chart. Source: TradingView
The chart places the nearest potential support around $1.34, an earlier resistance level cleared during the breakout. A deeper support area sits near $1.16, close to the 50-period moving average.
A sustained move above $1.70 could support further gains. A decline below $1.34 would weaken the immediate breakout and increase the possibility of a broader correction.
The interview placed XRP within a national discussion about debt and government-held digital assets. However, it produced no official commitment to buy XRP, use it against the debt or expand its role in U.S. cryptocurrency policy.
