Ray Dalio Calls for 15% Allocation to Bitcoin, Gold as U.S. Debt Crisis Escalates

Ray Dalio Urges 15% Bitcoin and Gold Allocation as U.S. Debt Spiral Deepens

Billionaire investor and Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio has revised his stance on Bitcoin, recommending that investors allocate up to 15% of their portfolios to Bitcoin or gold. The shift comes amid mounting concern over the U.S.’s accelerating debt crisis and long-term currency debasement.

“In a portfolio optimized for return relative to risk, 15% in gold or Bitcoin makes sense,” Dalio said during a recent episode of the Master Investor podcast. The statement marks a dramatic pivot from his 2022 advice, when he suggested just a 1–2% allocation to Bitcoin.

Dalio cited what he described as a looming “debt doom loop,” highlighting projections of over $12 trillion in new U.S. Treasury issuance over the next year. The U.S. Treasury Department confirmed Monday it now expects to borrow $1 trillion in Q3—$453 billion more than previously estimated—followed by $590 billion in Q4.

While reaffirming his long-standing preference for gold, Dalio acknowledged Bitcoin’s growing role as a portfolio diversifier, particularly in an environment where fiat currencies are losing purchasing power relative to hard assets.

Still, Dalio remains cautious about Bitcoin’s utility as a true reserve asset. “Governments can trace transactions,” he noted, raising concerns about privacy and protocol-level vulnerabilities. These issues, he warned, could erode confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term credibility.

Dalio confirmed he owns “some Bitcoin” personally but emphasized that the ratio between gold and BTC within the 15% allocation should depend on individual risk preferences.

As of Tuesday morning in Asia, Bitcoin was trading just above $118,000.