• Bitcoin, gold, and silver have surged over 28% in 2025 as investors seek safety in real assets.
• Despite massive ETF inflows, Robert Kiyosaki stresses owning physical metals and self-custodied Bitcoin.
• Ethereum and Bitcoin ETFs see record-breaking momentum, with BlackRock and Fidelity leading inflow charts.

Popular financial expert and author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, raised again the paper asset vs. tangible ownership argument with his caution to investors who are too reliant on ETFs, or Exchange-Traded Funds, for their finances.

On his X account, Kiyosaki once made a sweeping statement comparing investing in ETFs to having “a picture of a gun for self-defense,” citing that paper assertions on possessions would be of no help in instances of a systemic breakdown or a fiscal collapse.

Whilst he agreed with the convenience and accessibility of ETFs, particularly for newbies, he promoted real security with ownership of tangible or self-custodied assets.

“An ETF is like having a picture of a gun for self-defense,” Kiyosaki wrote. “Know the difference between paper and real assets.”

Though not opposed to ETFs as such, Kiyosaki did stress having a feel for when to own paper and when to own the real thing. For mass-market investors, he still advocates investing in ETFs for gold, silver, and Bitcoin. However, his go-to strategy is still direct ownership: physical gold and silver, and legitimate, self-owned Bitcoin.

Bitcoin and Gold Surge as Real Assets Dominate 2025

As macroeconomic uncertainty gains pace and panic about systemic risk grows, Kiyosaki’s argument finds sympathetic ears. His call for ownership of “real assets” comes as Bitcoin and gold have gone up more than 28% in 2025, making them go-to choices for investors who are adopting non-traditional investing.

Gold ETFs still lead with $170 billion+ in assets as of April. Silver ETFs have been leading gold this year with more than a 30% increase, with UTI Silver ETF leading with a 32.84% rise. Gold ETFs have also seen strong gains with 29% year-to-date returns, with fears of rising inflation, supplies, and geopolitical events.

Despite Kiyosaki’s skepticism about paper ownership, you can’t help but notice the increase in demand for crypto ETFs. Since their launch in 2024, Bitcoin ETFs have been a popular entry point among both retail and institutional investors. Just yesterday, net inflows of $226.7 million were witnessed for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, of which $32.5 million were from BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust alone.

The Ethereum ETFs are gaining traction. They saw inflows of $231.2 million yesterday, with Fidelity grabbing a staggering $210.1 million in ETH purchases. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) recently emerged as the quickest Ethereum ETF to amass $10 billion in assets after achieving that milestone in a mere 10 days, registering as the third fastest-growing ETF in United States history.

Also Read | Bitcoin at $116,180 Faces Critical Test: Will It Surge or Plunge? 

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs Reshape Finance

As of July 24, spot Ethereum ETPs attracted $8.88 billion in collective inflows. Bitcoin, however, still leads with a staggering $54.69 billion in cumulative inflows, according to SoSoValue.

The ETF Store President, Nate Geraci, highlighted industry shifts this way: “Bitcoin and Ethereum Spot ETFs have revolutionized conventional finance’s attitude towards digital currencies entirely. We’ve seen a humongous reallocation into crypto for the past 18 months!”

The surge in demand shows a broadening insight into cryptocurrencies and precious metals as insurance against fiat money devaluation, inflation, and global uncertainty, in alignment with Kiyosaki’s ideology for a very long time.

Also Read | Ethereum Poised for a Massive Breakout: Is $4,811 Within Reach?