Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is entering uncharted territory. With the legendary “Oracle of Omaha” retiring at age 95, the conglomerate now holds a record $382 billion in cash. That’s enough money to buy about 480 S&P 500 companies, according to Barchart.
Large cash reserves, combined with 12 straight quarters of net stock sales, are fueling speculation that Berkshire is bracing for a market downturn. This raises the question whether the new leadership will be able to demonstrate openness to digital assets.
Berkshire Hathaway’s holdings reach record high as Warren Buffett retires
Mr. Buffett’s retirement on Dec. 31 marks the end of a 60-year reign that transformed Berkshire from a struggling textile company into a financial giant.
The company currently controls approximately 200 subsidiaries, including BNSF, GEICO, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy. He also owns shares in Apple ($65 billion), Coca-Cola ($28 billion), Bank of America ($32 billion), and American Express ($58 billion).
The company’s insurance divisions, National Indemnity and GEICO, generate stable premiums that drive investment in both equity and acquisitions. This gives conglomerates a powerful cash engine.
🚨 Is the market on the verge of a decline?
Major companies accumulating large amounts of cash
Warren Buffett is no exception.His Berkshire Hathaway cash pile just hit $277 billion
This is an all-time record!
The last time he posted numbers like this was in 2020, right before the coronavirus dump.
Looks like… pic.twitter.com/6MO3mOOnVQ
— NoName (@WhaleNoName) November 2, 2025
The big question is what Greg Abel, vice chairman of Berkshire’s non-insurance business, will do with this unprecedented liquidity.
Mr. Abel, who rose through Berkshire’s energy business rather than stock picking, is at the helm at a time when interest rates have fallen and the opportunity cost of idle cash has increased.
Analysts have suggested that while Berkshire may stick to Buffett’s traditional value investing strategy, his large cash pile puts him in a position to buy companies at discounted valuations if the market declines.
“What you stand to lose is Mr. Buffett’s Rolodex. Will Berkshire continue to be asked to stabilize failed banks like it did in 2008?” The Economist wrote, quoting UBS’s Brian Meredith.
Cryptocurrency investors are watching closely. Buffett has long dismissed Bitcoin, calling it “rat poison squared,” and Berkshire does not invest directly in cryptocurrencies.
However, the company’s stake in New Holdings, a Brazilian digital bank with crypto operations, suggests it could be indirectly exposed under Abel’s leadership.
New Holdings is a standout performer in Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio. Since an initial $500 million investment in 2021, followed by an additional $250 million, the company’s value has skyrocketed, with its stock price soaring more than 50% in 2025 alone.
New Holdings stock price performance. Source: TradingView
Berkshire’s $382 billion war chest signals caution and opportunity for the crypto market
This performance follows impressive results in 2023 and 2024, with the stock increasing by almost 100% in 2023 and almost 50% in 2024.
“While Buffett is famously negative about the crypto market, Greg Abel has not expressed strong opinions on the asset class. Nevertheless, Buffett is likely to continue his legacy and focus on businesses that generate tangible cash. A change in direction will require a clear signal from the new CEO, which remains to be seen,” Centra head of research Juan Pellicer previously told BeInCrypto.
Berkshire’s current strategy also warns the market. Over the past three years, the company has sold about $184 billion in stock, making it one of the world’s largest net sellers.
Combined with $382 billion in cash and short-term Treasuries, this “dry powder” could position Berkshire to weather a crash or take advantage of bargain hunting.
Those in the crypto space may notice similarities, as large institutional capital accumulations often precede risk-off periods. This creates a potential entry point for opportunistic investors.
Berkshire’s article highlights a broader lesson: even the most disciplined value investors are hoarding cash in anticipation of market turmoil.
Historically, Berkshire has underperformed the S&P 500 only 20 times since 1965. But Berkshire’s total returns are small compared to the overall market’s returns, with an average annual return of 19.9% compared to the S&P’s 10.4%, proving that patience and liquidity pay off in the long run.
As Buffett retires, the question remains whether Abel can carefully explore digital assets while adhering to his value principles. If that happens, the cryptocurrency market could gain a powerful institutional ally.
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