Is Bitcoin a Good Investment for Retirement? What Experts Recommend

By Sam Daodu

Published September 29, 2026, 9:30am ET · 3 min read

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

A senior couple sits at a wooden table across from a financial advisor, whose back is to the viewer. The grey-haired man in a light blue shirt gestures with his hands while looking at the blonde woman in glasses, who is also gesturing. Papers, a pen, a laptop, and a white coffee mug are visible on the table. — An older couple engages in a serious discussion, likely about the complex financial agreements associated with continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), as detailed in the article. © Inside Creative House / Shutterstock.com

When it comes to whether Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) is a wise investment for retirement, financial experts Suze Orman, Clark Howard, and the hosts of The Ramsey Show offer differing opinions. However, they all agree on one key principle: retirees should only invest money they can afford to lose.

This advice holds particular significance in September 2026. Bitcoin is trading at around $83,355 after a 44% rise over the last three months. Yet it’s still down 25% year over year and about 34% below its all-time high of $126,080 in October 2025. With such volatility, should retirees consider putting their hard-earned savings into Bitcoin?

What Suze Orman, Clark Howard and Dave Ramsey Say About Bitcoin

A blonde woman with shoulder-length hair and large gold hoop earrings, wearing a light yellow blazer over a dark top, speaks emphatically into a black microphone. Her hands are clasped and gesturing slightly on a green table, where two water bottles and a glass are also visible. The background is dimly lit and blurred, showing parts of other individuals.

In an October 2022 episode of The Ramsey Show, a 72-year-old caller named Maggie expressed her desire to cash out her portfolio for cryptocurrency. Dave Ramsey cautioned her, stating that the crypto market is “a lot darker than the stock market,” and emphasized the risks involved.

Suze Orman presents a more favorable perspective. In March 2024, she expressed some optimism about Bitcoin, saying she had “a little bit of confidence that Bitcoin is going to go up.” However, she also advised caution, reiterating her longstanding rule: “only invest in Bitcoin with money that you can afford to lose,” and to brace for “20 or 30% drops overnight.”

Clark Howard takes a firmer stance against Bitcoin, stating in December 2018 that it “is not really designed to be an investment,” labeling it as more of a “speculative event.” A Ramsey Show host added in January 2025 that prospective Bitcoin buyers should first allocate 15% of their income to retirement plans and then use “fun money” for investing in crypto.

Why a 25% Bitcoin Drop Hurts Retirees More Than 30-Year-Olds

A close-up composite image shows an elderly woman with a pained expression, wearing glasses, a pearl necklace, and a white top, holding her head with both hands. Her hair is grey and curly. The background is a blue-tinted overlay of blurred US dollar bills and a Social Security Administration document, creating a visual metaphor for financial stress and retirement concerns.

For a 30-year-old holding Bitcoin, a 25% market drop may be less damaging because they have ongoing income and time to recover. In contrast, a retiree who relies on selling Bitcoin each month to cover living expenses faces a more challenging situation.

For instance, at about $111,000 a year ago, a $2,000 monthly withdrawal would require selling about 0.018 BTC. Now, at $83,355, the same withdrawal demands about 0.024 BTC, meaning they’d have to sell a third more coins. Once those coins are sold, they can’t be recovered, leaving the retiree with less Bitcoin for when the price recovers.

This is an example of sequence-of-returns risk, which shows how the timing of gains and losses affects a retiree’s savings. A market drop early in retirement can significantly impact financial stability, which is why we’ve created a free guide to help retirees navigate these crucial early years.

Treasuries Paying Near 5% Offer Retirees Steadier Income Than Bitcoin

As of September 25, 2026, the 10-year Treasury yields around 5.2%, and the two-year Treasury yields about 4.8%. For retirees, holding a Treasury bond to maturity offers predictable interest payments and the return of the principal investment. For example, a $100,000 investment in 10-year Treasuries would yield approximately $5,170 annually, or about $430 monthly.

In contrast, Bitcoin provides no interest or cash flow. Its value can only increase if another buyer pays a higher price in the future. While Treasuries carry risks—such as potential losses if sold before maturity when interest rates rise—they generally pose less risk than facing a 25% loss over a short period. Moreover, fixed income payments align more closely with fixed expenses.

Is Bitcoin a Good Investment for Retirement?

For most retirees, Bitcoin is not a sound primary investment option. It may be suitable for a small group of retirees whose income sources, such as pensions and Social Security, cover their living expenses. Such retirees may invest in Bitcoin without needing to sell during downturns. This approach aligns with the experts’ advice, allowing a small Bitcoin investment that can withstand a potential 34% drop without affecting their budget.

Thus, is Bitcoin a good investment for retirement? It may be a minor addition for retirees whose guaranteed income covers their expenses, while Treasuries offer close to 5% returns. For retirees who need to draw from their savings, the risk remains that a future downturn might lead to selling Bitcoin at a loss, the same risk Ramsey warned Maggie about.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

1INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).2The probability of a member receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Members must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. The probability percentage is subject to decrease. Members are only eligible for the Stock Award promotion upon opening their first brokerage account; subsequent cash brokerage accounts are ineligible for the promo, including for members with multiple accounts.

3Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.

4There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.

Sam Daodu

Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst and the editor of 24/7 Wall St.'s Crypto Desk, where he covers Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, Solana and the altcoins investors search for most. His work focuses on price levels, spot ETF flows, on-chain data and the regulatory decisions that move crypto markets, written so a first-time buyer and a seasoned trader can both use it.
Sam has written about crypto professionally since 2019 and has published more than 2,000 articles. Before joining 24/7 Wall St., he wrote for crypto media outlets and Web3 companies and ghostwrote for crypto founders and token launches. His analysis is syndicated on Yahoo Finance, MSN and AOL and has been cited by other crypto news sites. He also founded MacLabs Marketing, a content and personal branding agency for crypto founders and executives.
When he isn't reading charts, Sam is usually at the gym or watching One Piece, a series he maintains has better tokenomics than most altcoins.

All articles →