Salinas says 70% of his portfolio is tied to Bitcoin
Ricardo Salinas, the Mexican billionaire behind Grupo Salinas, said in a recent interview that 70% of his investment portfolio is allocated to Bitcoin and Bitcoin-related assets. The statement reinforces his reputation as one of the most outspoken Bitcoin backers in Latin America and shows that his support goes far beyond public commentary.
Rather than treating Bitcoin as a speculative side position, Salinas appears to view it as a central component of long-term wealth preservation. For a businessman of his scale, such a concentrated allocation is unusual. It also sends a strong signal to both traditional investors and crypto observers about how seriously he takes the asset.
According to the report, Salinas has an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion. That makes his portfolio choices especially notable. When a billionaire publicly discloses that most of his exposure is linked to Bitcoin, the announcement inevitably draws attention not only because of the number itself, but because of what it suggests about confidence in Bitcoin’s role as a store of value.
The other 30% is in gold and his own companies
Salinas said the remaining 30% of his portfolio is made up of gold and shares in his own companies. He was explicit about what he does not own as well: he said he does not hold a single bond, and he does not own any stocks other than those tied to businesses he controls.
This is a highly concentrated capital allocation strategy. Instead of spreading risk across a broad basket of public equities, fixed income, and other conventional instruments, he is focusing on assets he either trusts deeply or understands directly. In practical terms, that means Bitcoin, gold, and his own corporate holdings.
The absence of bonds is especially telling. Bonds are often treated as a defensive allocation in traditional portfolios, particularly for wealthy investors seeking stability. Salinas’ decision to avoid them entirely suggests a deeper skepticism toward conventional financial products and fiat-based capital markets.
His Bitcoin exposure has surged from 10% in 2020
Salinas has not suddenly discovered Bitcoin. The article notes that in 2020, his Bitcoin exposure was only 10%. Moving from 10% to 70% over a period of a few years marks a dramatic increase and shows a much deeper level of conviction than before.
This change matters because it indicates that his support for Bitcoin has translated into actual portfolio action. Many prominent business figures express favorable views on digital assets while keeping only limited exposure. Salinas, by contrast, has meaningfully expanded his position, turning Bitcoin into the dominant theme in his investment strategy.
He has also been a vocal public advocate for broader Bitcoin adoption. Among his more notable ambitions is the plan to make Banco Azteca the first bank in Mexico to accept Bitcoin. If such a move is achieved, it could have symbolic and practical significance for crypto adoption in the country, especially within the banking sector.
He remains committed despite corporate and legal pressure
The disclosure comes at a complicated moment in Salinas’ broader business career. He is seeking to take his flagship company, Grupo Elektra, private by delisting it from public markets. According to his own explanation, that would free him from shareholder constraints and allow him to run the business more directly in line with his own preferences.
At the same time, he has gone through a turbulent period financially. The report says Grupo Elektra shares plunged 70% last year, erasing nearly $5 billion from his fortune. That kind of decline would be material for any investor, even one of his scale, and it adds context to why his continued confidence in Bitcoin stands out.
Salinas is also still involved in legal disputes with the Mexican government over alleged unpaid taxes. These battles add a layer of political and regulatory uncertainty to an already difficult environment. Yet the article makes clear that he has not backed away from his Bitcoin thesis in response to those pressures.
On the contrary, he remains openly defiant, saying that despite all the problems in Mexico, his businesses are doing well and that he is now free to do his own thing. That posture aligns with the broader image he has cultivated as an independent-minded businessman who is willing to challenge both market orthodoxy and political resistance.
One of Latin America’s most influential Bitcoin advocates
Even with legal disputes and market volatility surrounding him, Salinas continues to treat Bitcoin as a core pillar of his financial strategy. That consistency has made him one of the most influential Bitcoin proponents in Latin America, particularly among high-net-worth individuals and business leaders who are watching how peers allocate capital.
His public support also strengthens the narrative that Bitcoin can serve as a long-term store of value. While one investor’s portfolio does not prove the thesis on its own, large and visible allocations from wealthy, well-known entrepreneurs often shape public perception. They can also influence the way institutional and private investors think about strategic exposure to BTC.
If Salinas’ bet ultimately pays off, he may be remembered as one of the earliest major corporate champions of Bitcoin in the region. More broadly, his portfolio reveals a clear worldview: in a landscape marked by market stress, political friction, and distrust in traditional instruments, Bitcoin can be treated not as a fringe asset, but as a central long-term holding.