Ray Dalio Holds Bitcoin But Still Thinks It’s No Match for Gold — Here’s Why

TLDR

• Ray Dalio says “there is only one gold” and argues Bitcoin cannot replace it as a safe-haven asset
• Dalio holds only 1% of his portfolio in Bitcoin, preferring gold for wealth preservation
• He raised concerns about Bitcoin’s lack of privacy and vulnerability to quantum computing
• Bitcoin has fallen over 45% since its October peak, while gold has climbed over 30% to $5,120
• Dalio warned last month that the global world order has broken down, favouring gold in uncertain times

Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, pushed back hard against the idea that Bitcoin can function as digital gold during an appearance on the All-In Podcast on March 3.

Dalio acknowledged he does hold Bitcoin, but only about 1% of his portfolio. He views it as a diversification tool, not a core store of value.

His preference comes down to how he defines money. He describes money as debt — a promise from a central authority. When debt grows too large, central banks can print more. That is why he wants assets with physical limits.

Gold cannot be printed. It is globally recognised. It can be moved across borders without depending on a counterparty promise. Central banks have been accumulating gold steadily in recent years, which Dalio sees as a vote of confidence.

He does not see central banks doing the same with Bitcoin anytime soon.

Bitcoin’s Privacy Problem

Dalio’s biggest concern about Bitcoin is its transparency. Every transaction on the blockchain is publicly visible.

He believes central banks are unlikely to adopt an asset that operates on a fully public ledger. The lack of privacy, in his view, makes it unsuitable as a reserve asset.

He also flagged quantum computing as a future threat to Bitcoin’s cryptographic security.

Beyond technology, Dalio pointed to Bitcoin’s correlation with tech stocks. When investors are forced to sell in one area, Bitcoin can get pulled down alongside other risk assets.

Gold and Bitcoin Diverge Sharply

The performance gap between the two assets has grown wide since October.

Bitcoin has dropped over 45% from its October peak of $68,420. Gold has risen more than 30% to $5,120 in the same period.

On the fifth day of the U.S.-Iran war, gold pulled back $168, a 3.07% drop, trading at $5,128.58 per ounce. Bitcoin was at $68,707.30, down just 0.7% in the past 24 hours.

In July, Dalio had recommended a 15% portfolio allocation split between Bitcoin or gold to manage risk around U.S. debt levels and currency debasement.

Last month, Dalio warned investors that the U.S.-led world order had broken down and that traditional wealth protection strategies needed rethinking. He pointed to gold, not Bitcoin, as the right answer in that environment.

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