Ray Dalio Urges 15% Bitcoin or Gold Allocation Amid U.S. Debt Concerns

Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio is advising investors to allocate about 15% of their portfolios to Bitcoin (BTC) or gold as U.S. debt risks intensify. Speaking on the Master Investor podcast, Dalio cited accelerating U.S. borrowing and long-term currency devaluation as key reasons for diversifying into hard assets.

Dalio’s latest view marks a significant shift from his 2022 recommendation of just 1–2% in Bitcoin, reflecting heightened worries over what he calls a “debt doom loop.” The U.S. government is projected to issue $12 trillion in new Treasuries within the next year to manage its $36.7 trillion national debt. A Treasury report this week revealed expected borrowing of $1 trillion in Q3, $453 billion more than forecast, followed by $590 billion in Q4.

While Dalio still prefers gold, he acknowledged Bitcoin as an “effective diversifier” during periods of fiat currency erosion. However, he remains cautious about its adoption as a reserve asset, highlighting blockchain transparency and potential vulnerabilities as concerns.

“Governments can see who is doing what transactions on it,” Dalio warned, suggesting that surveillance risks and code-level flaws could undermine Bitcoin’s credibility.

Dalio confirmed he personally holds some Bitcoin and framed the 15% allocation as flexible, advising investors to decide their own split between gold and BTC. As of Tuesday morning in Asia, Bitcoin trades just above $118,000.

This recommendation underscores a growing institutional narrative: as global debt mounts and inflationary pressures persist, both Bitcoin and gold are increasingly viewed as safe-haven assets for portfolio protection. Investors seeking resilience amid economic uncertainty may find Dalio’s call a timely signal to rebalance their holdings.