Ric Edelman Raises Bitcoin Allocation Call From 1% to 40%
Bitcoin is moving from satellite allocation to potential portfolio core, at least in Ric Edelman’s view.
Speaking at the Bitcoin Treasuries Conference in Manhattan on Sept. 28, the founder of Edelman Financial Engines said his recommended bitcoin allocation has risen dramatically from the 1% level he advocated several years ago.
“I argue for a 10% to 40% allocation,” Edelman said, outlining 10% for conservative investors, 25% for moderate portfolios, and 40% for aggressive ones.
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The shift is significant because it reflects how far bitcoin’s place in mainstream portfolio construction has moved since the last crypto cycle.
Edelman Says the 60/40 Portfolio Is Broken
Edelman’s argument goes beyond bitcoin’s historical price returns.
“The 60-40 is broken,” he said, referring to the traditional portfolio split between stocks and bonds.
His reasoning centers on longevity. As people live longer, Edelman argues that investors need more exposure to growth-oriented assets for longer periods. That makes tiny crypto allocations less compelling in his view.
He said advisers may ignore a 1% position because the potential impact on client outcomes is too small to justify the education, volatility, and reputational risk. A 10% or larger allocation makes bitcoin harder to dismiss.
$500K Bitcoin Becomes Part of the Long-Term Case
Edelman also outlined a much more ambitious price framework.
He said Bitcoin could reach $500,000 by 2030, while arguing that a 2% allocation of global assets to BTC could imply a price around $1 million per coin. Bitcoin’s current all-time high price above $126,000 was set in Oct. 2025, while the asset has recently been hovering around the $83,000 level.
“This has been the best-performing asset class since inception,” he said, adding that he sees no obvious reason the long-term trend must end.
The projections remain highly speculative and depend on continued institutional adoption, capital inflows, and bitcoin maintaining its role as a scarce global asset. Edelman also said he is less focused on bitcoin’s traditional four-year cycle than many crypto traders.
Crypto Community Sees the Allocation Debate Shifting
The comments quickly drew attention on X.
Richard Byworth, managing partner at BYZ Partners, described Edelman as an “extremely credible allocator” and highlighted the significance of recommending 10% even for conservative portfolios.
Mike Alfred, private investor and founder of Alpine Fox LP, noted that Edelman discussed allocations closer to 1% to 10% when the two spoke in 2016 and 2017, writing that “the Overton window has shifted.”
Others were more bullish. Market analyst David Gokhshtein argued that $1 million bitcoin could arrive within the next few years, while “The Bitcoin Therapist” suggested that even a 1% allocation of global assets could support a $500,000 price.
Ultimately, the biggest story here is the size of Edelman’s shift. Bitcoin is no longer being discussed merely as a 1% hedge. For some established advisers, the debate is now whether it deserves a double-digit share of the portfolio.