The initial recommendation to long XPL and short ETH has resulted in a significant loss, with XPL down 90% against ETH. While the original post suggested a floor around $1 for XPL and highlighted its potential as a "banking chain" with $0 fees on USDT transfers, the immediate outcome has been negative. Investors should be cautious given the current performance, despite the long-term bullish thesis for XPL based on its DeFi TVL and partnerships.