Billionaire investor Ray Dalio shared his worries on October 22, 2025, that countries holding large amounts of U.S. dollars and Treasurys may become less willing to finance U.S. deficits if trust erodes.
Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge funds, emphasized that if trust weakens, it could create issues for both the holders of U.S. dollars and the United States itself.
During an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dalio stated that President Trump's aggressive political direction could lead to a new phase of global financial conflict.
He referred to the possibility of 'capital wars,' where foreign governments might reconsider their appetite for U.S. assets amid rising economic tensions. "If you take the conflicts, you can't ignore the possibility of the capital wars," Dalio said, highlighting the potential for decreased willingness to buy U.S. debt.
On the same day, Treasury prices tumbled as investors weighed the implications of renewed tariff threats from Washington. This development sparked fears of a trade war with Europe, causing investors to move away from U.S. assets.
Dalio noted that current economic actions could mirror historical instances where economic conflicts escalated beyond trade disputes into capital flow and currency disagreements.
Dalio pointed out that history provides multiple examples of how international geopolitical conflicts can influence investment decisions. He explained that even allies may hesitate to hold each other's debt during times of conflict, preferring to invest in hard currencies instead.
"When you have conflicts, international geopolitical conflicts, even allies do not want to hold each other's debt," he said, indicating a logical response to growing tensions.
In light of these concerns, Dalio emphasized the importance of diversification in investment portfolios. He recommended that investors should not rely too heavily on any single asset class or country.
He specifically highlighted gold as a valuable hedge during financial stress, suggesting it should make up between 5% and 15% of a typical portfolio. "It does very well when other assets don't do well," Dalio noted, reinforcing the idea of gold as an effective diversifier.
Amid the rising geopolitical tensions, spot gold surged to an all-time high of $4,689.39 on October 22, 2025. This increase reflects the growing demand for safe-haven assets as investors seek stability in uncertain times.