Ray Dalio warned that the post-World War II rules-based order has “officially broken down,” fuelling renewed debate over monetary debasement, dollar risk and the role of neutral financial assets.
The Bridgewater Associates founder said the world is entering a “law of the jungle” phase in which power overrides rules, with great powers locked in a persistent “prisoner’s dilemma” across trade, technology, capital flows and military flashpoints.
Dalio added that when economies come under strain and wealth gaps widen, governments tend to resort to higher taxes and “big increases in the supply of money” that erode existing claims rather than pursue explicit defaults.
Crypto advocates argue that such an environment historically favours apolitical assets such as Bitcoin and gold, particularly as states increase reliance on sanctions, asset freezes and capital controls.
Data from Econovis shows global broad money rising to an estimated $142 trillion in 2025 from $26 trillion in 2000, reinforcing the view that liquidity expansion has coincided with major bitcoin and gold rallies.
Hunter Horsley, chief executive of Bitwise Asset Management, echoed that narrative, asking:
“Is anyone working on global, permissionless, apolitical monetary assets and financial rails?? Could be important.”
While Dalio did not issue a direct bitcoin forecast and crypto remains sensitive to rates, regulation and risk appetite, his macro warning provides a framework many investors are using to argue that demand for “neutral money” could rise as geopolitical fragmentation intensifies.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $68,691.39.