Hedge fund icon Ray Dalio has called for investors to allocate roughly 15% of their portfolios to gold or Bitcoin as a safeguard against rising U.S. sovereign debt and currency devaluation. In a recent appearance on the Master Investor podcast, Dalio described the U.S. situation as a “debt doom loop,” driven by ballooning deficits and financial policy stress.
His new recommendation marks a shift from earlier guidance where he suggested only 1–2% exposure to Bitcoin. Dalio emphasized that gold remains his preferred store of value asset, but acknowledged Bitcoin as a credible alternative. The exact mix between the two is left to individual risk appetite, but Dalio insists that staying under 15% helps maintain balance and prevent overexposure.
He warned that fiat devaluation typically persists in high debt and geopolitical environments and that Bitcoin and gold offer diversification. Though he maintains skepticism regarding blockchain transparency and regulatory vulnerabilities, he sees digital assets as increasingly relevant in portfolio risk management.
