Warren Buffett’s $334 Billion Cash Stash Breaks Records—But He’s Still Not Buying Bitcoin
Warren Buffett, legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is once again making headlines—not for a bold acquisition or a tech stock bet, but for amassing a record-setting cash reserve. As of April 2025, Berkshire holds a staggering $334 billion in cash, the largest stockpile ever recorded by a publicly traded company.
This financial milestone isn't accidental. Much of the capital was raised through a series of large-scale stock sales in 2024, with Buffett and his team offloading approximately $134 billion in equities. Apple, once Berkshire’s crown jewel, saw its stake slashed by 67%, dropping from 906 million shares to 300 million. Similarly, Berkshire trimmed its holdings in Bank of America by over a third during the same period.
That strategic caution proved shrewd. In early April 2025, the global stock markets suffered a historic plunge, with the S&P 500 falling more than 10% in just two trading sessions—its steepest drop since World War II. While other top-tier billionaires saw their fortunes shrink, Buffett not only preserved Berkshire’s capital but managed to increase its value. He stands alone as the only billionaire in the world’s top ten to have gained wealth this year.
“Warren Buffett sold the top. Legendary,” investor Luke Belmar remarked in response to the news.
Yet, even as Buffett doubles down on cash, he remains steadfast in his long-standing rejection of Bitcoin—a digital asset many now consider a viable alternative to traditional stores of value like gold.
Buffett’s disdain for the cryptocurrency space is nothing new. In 2018, he famously dubbed Bitcoin “rat poison squared,” and by 2022, he went so far as to say he wouldn’t buy the entire global supply of Bitcoin for $25, questioning its utility and value.
“If you told me you own all of the Bitcoin in the world and offered it to me for $25, I wouldn’t take it,” Buffett said. “What would I do with it? It isn’t going to do anything.”
This stance is notably at odds with some of Berkshire’s own investments. Jefferies Financial Group—part of the Berkshire portfolio—has embraced Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation. Jefferies holds a significant position in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the world’s largest spot Bitcoin ETF, owning more than 1.6 million shares valued at over $85 million.
So why does Buffett personally remain so opposed?
An investigative report from 2025 may offer clues. It outlines how Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a subsidiary of the conglomerate, had a vested interest in lobbying Texas lawmakers to approve $8 billion worth of natural gas “peaker” power plants. The lobbying campaign, which included eight registered lobbyists, reportedly competed with alternative solutions for grid stability—including Bitcoin mining.
According to the Texas Tribune and ERCOT (the state’s power grid operator), former ERCOT CEO Brad Jones favored expanding Bitcoin mining and improving infrastructure resilience over building new fossil fuel facilities. Yet, Texas Governor Dan Patrick publicly criticized Bitcoin mining, echoing concerns that experts later contradicted.
The report suggests that Berkshire lobbyists may have influenced this stance to tilt regulatory preferences toward traditional energy solutions—ones that would benefit their investments. If Bitcoin mining were restricted, it could increase demand for gas-powered electricity, directly supporting Berkshire’s energy projects.
Despite the complex motivations and heated debates, Buffett's position is consistent: he sees no intrinsic value in Bitcoin and prefers to focus on assets that generate cash flow. With $334 billion at his disposal, every move Berkshire makes from here will be scrutinized by analysts, investors, and policymakers alike.