After six decades at the helm of the Berkshire Hathaway financial empire, Warren Buffett has officially stepped down as Chairman of the board at the age of 96. This governance change, announced in September 2026, marks a long-planned transition: the investor becomes "Chairman Emeritus," while his son, Howard G. Buffett, takes over as board chair. Operational management remains in the hands of CEO Greg Abel, ensuring cultural continuity for the conglomerate while formalizing a symbolic transfer of power within one of the most influential structures in global finance.
Warren Buffett's tenure will forever be associated with his fierce opposition to Bitcoin. For over a decade, the financier frequently made headlines by branding the digital asset "rat poison" or a "collective delusion." This deep and unwavering skepticism served as a cornerstone of his investment strategy, leading him to shun cryptocurrencies despite their meteoric rise. However, this uncompromising dogma was sometimes put into perspective by his conglomerate's strategic choices, creating a striking contrast between his public statements and the investments made behind the scenes.
The paradox of this era lies in Berkshire Hathaway’s indirect exposure to digital assets. The group injected several hundred million dollars into Nu Holdings, the parent company of the Brazilian neobank Nubank. Yet, this entity actively offers cryptocurrency trading services to its vast customer base. Through this investment, valued at more than $1 billion according to 2024 data, the fund led by Buffett indirectly benefited from the crypto ecosystem he so firmly denounced, illustrating a pragmatic approach that at times seemed to deviate from the theoretical doctrine advocated by its founder.
The question of how this stance will evolve is now being raised. While the official statement indicates no shift in strategy regarding digital assets, the departure of the iconic anti-crypto figure opens a period of uncertainty. Greg Abel, in his capacity as the new operational leader, has never echoed the acerbic criticisms of his predecessor. As some analysts argue that Berkshire Hathaway missed out on massive gains by refraining from direct investment in the sector, the financial world is watching closely to see whether this new leadership will force a doctrinal break or uphold the prudent legacy of the man who, for sixty years, dictated the rules on international markets.