Mexican Billionaire Ricardo Salinas Advocates Selling Homes for Bitcoin

Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas, the chairman of Grupo Salinas, has publicly advocated for investing in Bitcoin over real estate, challenging the traditional view of real estate as a safe investment. Salinas, one of Mexico's wealthiest individuals, has urged the public to sell their homes and buy Bitcoin, arguing that the digital asset offers a more secure long-term investment compared to real estate. He believes that while owning a home serves practical living needs, it fails as a financial asset compared to Bitcoin, which offers fixed supply and portability. In his view, real estate can always be recreated, whereas Bitcoin’s scarcity gives it lasting value. He also suggested that homeowners could use long-term mortgages to unlock liquidity and redirect it into Bitcoin.

Salinas’ endorsement of Bitcoin underscores the cryptocurrency's perceived deflationary nature. His shift from 10% to 70% Bitcoin allocation showcases a major endorsement of Bitcoin, suggesting a potential paradigm shift in wealth preservation strategies. Salinas has strongly promoted Bitcoin, calling it a hard asset and advising against using real estate for investment. His recommendation has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting while others warning against such a high-risk approach.

Salinas has consistently expressed skepticism toward fiat currencies and the central banking systems that issue them. He regards inflation as a tool used by governments to erode individual wealth, believing that fiat money allows the state to grow at the public’s expense. Drawing from his experience during Mexico’s 1980s hyperinflation, Salinas sees historical precedent for his concerns. During that period, the Mexican peso depreciated drastically, which he cites as a case study in monetary mismanagement. According to Salinas, the global monetary system, heavily influenced by Keynesian economics, enables unsustainable government spending and weakens public purchasing power. He views modern central banking as fundamentally flawed and sees the fiat model as an unsustainable scheme that should be dismantled entirely.

In his outlook, Bitcoin and gold are the remaining paths to financial freedom. Salinas considers them “hard money” alternatives that resist inflation and government interference. He believes that broader adoption of Bitcoin is essential for individuals to maintain control over their savings, especially in a world where traditional currencies are increasingly vulnerable. Salinas frames this moment as a turning point, asserting that early adoption of Bitcoin could lead to significant long-term benefits. He considers the digital asset not merely a trend, but a foundational shift in the global financial landscape.

Salinas’ position might encourage further dialogue within the financial community, gauging Bitcoin's long-term viability amid fiat currency volatility. His significant cryptocurrency allocation reflects broader trends of growing cryptocurrency acceptance, though regulatory barriers persist. Economic analysts note a lack of immediate institutional or regulatory response to Salinas’ remarks. The Bank of Mexico’s stance remains unchanged, categorically stating that cryptocurrencies are not legal tender within the country’s banking framework.