Grant Cardone, the real estate mogul and CEO of Cardone Capital, is diving into Bitcoin with a cautious but calculated strategy he’s calling the “new gold rush” of the 21st century. Backed by plans to raise more than $1.2 billion, Cardone aims to blend Bitcoin and commercial real estate into a series of investment funds designed to deliver high-yield returns.
In a January 2025 meeting with Bitcoin Treasury Strategy Chairman Michael Saylor, Cardone outlined his approach. “It’s like the gold rush right now,” Cardone told Bitcoin.com. “Every time I feel the heat, the hair on the back of my neck stands up.”
A Conservative Entry Into Bitcoin
Despite his enthusiasm, Cardone emphasized his risk-averse roots as a real estate investor. His proposed fund structure to Saylor was 85% real estate and 15% Bitcoin, with a planned shift to 70:30 by year four, and a 50:50 split by year five. The plan may also lead to a future initial public offering (IPO).
Saylor, known for his aggressive pro-Bitcoin stance, pushed back. “You’re really cautious,” he told Cardone, recommending a bolder 80% Bitcoin allocation. But Cardone stood firm:“If I’m 80% Bitcoin and 20% real estate, I’m not a real estate guy anymore.”
Launch of Bitcoin-Backed Real Estate Funds
Following their conversations, Cardone launched four Bitcoin-backed real estate funds, including the recently announced “10X Miami River Bitcoin Fund,” inspired by his best-selling book, The 10X Rule. He plans to roll out a total of 12 funds in 2025.
Cardone’s strategy centers on acquiring discounted, cash flow-positive properties. He uses the equity gap between purchase price and market value to invest in Bitcoin, while also benefiting from rental income and tax advantages like depreciation. The result is what he calls a “flywheel effect”, accelerating both property gains and Bitcoin accumulation.
“There’s $4 trillion in the U.S. invested in REITs,” Cardone said. “We’re going to beat them. They can probably only do 12% a year. When we add Bitcoin, our real estate portfolio will return 30% to 40%.”
A New Hybrid Investment Model
Cardone’s funds represent an emerging investment model that bridges traditional real estate with digital assets, appealing to both conservative and crypto-forward investors. While critics may view his cautious BTC allocation as too modest in today’s bullish market, Cardone sees his real estate-first approach as the key to long-term outperformance.
“I’m not going all in on Bitcoin,” he reiterated. “I’m bringing Bitcoin into my world—a world I control.”
