News 
May 9, 2025 
4 min. 
Warren Buffett’s successor, Greg Abel, is preparing to lead Berkshire Hathaway next year, and the crypto community is closely watching for any change in his stance on Bitcoin. While Buffett has famously dismissed the digital asset as “rat poison squared,” some believe Abel’s relatively quiet position on cryptocurrencies could hint at a more open-minded approach once he assumes full control.
Leadership Shift Raises Questions About Berkshire Hathaway’s Stance on Bitcoin
Following Warren Buffett’s retirement announcement, Greg Abel, currently serving as Vice Chairman overseeing non-insurance operations, has been named as his successor and the next CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
This leadership change has fueled speculation about whether the investing giant might soften its traditionally skeptical stance on Bitcoin.
With Abel set to take over in 2026, some industry observers wonder if he could bring a fresh perspective to the table. However, without any public comments or positions from Abel regarding Bitcoin or the broader crypto market, such assumptions remain purely speculative.
If Abel aligns with Buffett’s well-known criticism of digital assets, a pro-Bitcoin shift at Berkshire remains doubtful.
Warren Buffett’s Longstanding Criticism of Bitcoin
Warren Buffett, the 94-year-old investment icon who has led Berkshire Hathaway for over five decades, has been unwavering in his criticism of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin.
In a May 2018 interview with CNBC, Buffett famously dismissed Bitcoin as “probably rat poison squared,” making his aversion to digital assets abundantly clear. He added, “In terms of cryptocurrencies, generally, I can say with almost certainty that they will come to a bad ending. We don’t own any, we’re not short any, we’ll never have a position in them.”
Given this firm stance, if Greg Abel adopts a similar view, Berkshire Hathaway’s approach to Bitcoin is unlikely to shift.
“Buffett’s disapproval of crypto is well-documented, but Greg Abel hasn’t publicly expressed strong views on the topic,” said Juan Pellicer, Head of Research at Sentora, in a statement to crypto news agency. “Still, it’s reasonable to expect he’ll uphold Buffett’s philosophy by prioritizing tangible, income-producing businesses; any major change would require a clear signal from Abel, which hasn’t happened yet.”
That said, not all decision-makers at Berkshire share Buffett’s rigid outlook, as some of the company’s other investment managers have shown greater curiosity and flexibility when it comes to digital assets.
Berkshire Hathaway’s Subtle Exposure to the Crypto Sector
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nu-holdings-ltd-nu-among-190127126.htmlDespite Warren Buffett’s vocal criticism of cryptocurrencies, Berkshire Hathaway has made indirect moves into the digital asset space. One notable example is its investment in Nu Holdings, a leading Brazilian digital bank that operates an active cryptocurrency platform.
Berkshire initially backed Nu with a $500 million investment during its Series G funding round in 2021, later following up with an additional $250 million.
According to filings from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the conglomerate expanded its stake in Nu from 0.1% in Q4 2022 to 0.4% by Q3 of fiscal year 2024—a significant increase for a company historically cautious about the crypto landscape.
Should Greg Abel, as incoming CEO, choose to increase exposure to such fintech ventures, it could hint at a more nuanced or even evolving view of Bitcoin and other digital assets under his leadership.
