25-7-2025 – “Rich Dad Poor Dad” author Robert Kiyosaki cautioned investors against over-relying on exchange-traded funds Thursday, comparing Bitcoin and precious metals ETFs to having “a picture of a gun for personal defense” in a post on X.

The entrepreneur acknowledged that ETFs simplify investing for average participants but emphasized they remain “paper assets” that cannot replace physical ownership of gold, silver, or Bitcoin. Kiyosaki’s warning comes as he predicts major asset bubbles are poised to burst, though he frames potential crashes as buying opportunities for tangible assets rather than their fund equivalents.

His skepticism contrasts sharply with surging institutional demand for Bitcoin ETFs, which recorded $227 million in net inflows on July 24 according to Binance data. Fidelity led with $107 million, pushing its historical inflows to $12.4 billion as the total market for Bitcoin spot ETFs reached $154.5 billion in assets under management.

The funds now represent 6.54% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization, with cumulative historical inflows across all Bitcoin ETFs hitting $54.7 billion. Despite this institutional momentum, Kiyosaki maintains his long-standing distrust of fiat monetary systems and argues that only physical assets provide genuine protection during financial crises.