How I bought R500 in XRP (without screwing it up)

Buying crypto often seems like a late-night impulse or something you delegate to someone with a LinkedIn banner that says “crypto strategist”. I wanted to take R500 - the same amount someone might spend on brunch -and actually buy Ripple (XRP) using a local app. No affiliate codes. No jargon. Just real experience.

Here is what happened.

Choosing an exchange
I used Luno because it is South African‑founded, FSCA‑registered and allows deposits via bank transfer, instant EFT and card payments. The setup took under ten minutes. I submitted my South African ID, a selfie and proof of address. Verification came through within the hour. The app interface is clean and designed for beginners. 

Depositing R500 for XRP
I transferred R500 using Ozow instant EFT from my Capitec account. The funds arrived almost immediately. I selected XRP, entered R500 and tapped buy. I received 48.5 XRP after a fee of R5.20 was charged.

Tracking XRP’s price move
Over the two‑week period from July 6 to July 18, XRP’s price dipped to a low of R39.98 on July 6 and climbed to a high of R65.16 on July 18, closing at R63.36. I made my purchase on July 14, when the price was R53.09. That spike to R65 meant my R500 holding briefly rose to R613 before settling near R593 a day later. These shifts made a real difference on a R500 investment.

Watching the numbers shift
Luno displays crypto balances in both rand and coin value. After buying, my XRP holding moved from R500 to a peak of R613 and then stabilised around R593. The live‑updating chart on the app made the small changes feel immediate.

Rookie mistakes
I stuck with the “Instant Buy” option and skipped limit orders. A limit order would let you set a purchase price, which could save rand when markets swing. I also considered sending the XRP to an external wallet but decided against it. For a first experiment, blockchain fees and security risks were not worth it.

This was never about getting rich. It was about testing crypto with a small, manageable amount and understanding how it works in practice. Now I know what price swings feel like, what real fees look like and what it means to own XRP. That clarity matters more than hype.