As Warren Buffett prepares to step down from Berkshire Hathaway, speculation is swirling about whether his successor, Greg Abel, will bring a fresh perspective to the table — including the firm’s long-standing aversion to Bitcoin.
Buffett, a legendary investor with a fierce commitment to traditional value strategies, has made his distaste for cryptocurrencies clear over the years. From calling Bitcoin “rat poison squared” to predicting it would “end badly,” his stance has been unwavering. Berkshire, under his leadership, has remained firmly on the sidelines of the crypto boom.
But with Abel taking over the helm in 2026, the investment world is watching for any sign of change. While Abel has offered no public opinion on Bitcoin or other digital assets, his silence alone has fueled debate about whether Berkshire could eventually warm to the space — even if only marginally.
There’s precedent for openness, however subtle. Berkshire has previously invested in Brazil-based Nu Holdings, a digital bank with active crypto exposure. The company poured hundreds of millions into the platform and quietly increased its stake in recent quarters — a move that suggests at least some flexibility among Berkshire’s decision-makers.
Still, industry analysts caution against expecting a dramatic pivot. Abel is likely to stick close to Berkshire’s core playbook: durable, cash-generating businesses with long-term fundamentals. Unless Abel chooses to actively challenge that legacy, Bitcoin’s place in Berkshire’s portfolio may remain more hypothetical than real.
Yet, as institutional sentiment toward crypto continues to evolve, even a neutral stance from Abel could mark a significant shift from Buffett’s highly public resistance — and open the door for more nuanced engagement in the years to come.
