Robert Kiyosaki Drops Truth Bomb: ETFs Are ‘Fake Guns’—Here’s Why He’s All-In on Gold & Bitcoin in 2025

Finance guru Robert Kiyosaki just torched the ETF market—calling them ‘photoshopped investments’ while doubling down on hard assets. In a world drowning in paper promises, here’s why he’s betting on the OG hedges.

Gold and Bitcoin: The only ‘bulletproof’ plays left?

While Wall Street peddles ETF facsimiles (‘Look, honey, we own a pixelated gold bar!’), Kiyosaki’s loading up on the real thing. Bitcoin’s finite supply and gold’s millennia-old track record outshine synthetic exposure every time. Spoiler: The Fed’s money printer can’t Ctrl+Z these.

Cynical take: Of course banks love ETFs—they get fees when you ‘own’ the Mona Lisa’s jpeg while they keep the Louvre keys.

TLDR

• Kiyosaki Slams ETFs: Prefers Gold, Silver, and Bitcoin You Can Actually Hold
• ETFs Are Just Photos, Real Assets Win in Crisis, Says Robert Kiyosaki
• Kiyosaki Warns: Don’t Trust ETFs—Own Physical Gold, Silver, and Bitcoin
• Spot Crypto ETFs Surge, But Kiyosaki Still Calls Them ‘Banksters’ Traps’
• Gold ETFs Hit Records, Yet Kiyosaki Stays Loyal to Tangible Wealth

Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, has renewed his criticism of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), highlighting their limitations. In his recent post on X, he called ETFs useful but ineffective in real economic crises compared to physical assets. He reaffirmed his belief in holding actual gold, silver, and Bitcoin over paper representations.

Kiyosaki has long criticized fiat currency and called ETFs substitutes without substance. Though he recognizes ETFs offer convenience, he believes they lack real-world utility in moments of true financial stress. He compared owning ETFs to owning a photo of a gun for protection, implying that they fail when most needed.

BEWARE of PAPER

I realize ETFs make investing easier for the average investor….so I do recommend ETFs for the average investor. Yet I extend these words of caution:

For the average investor I recommend:

Gold ETFs
Silver ETFs
Bitcoin ETFs

Yet an ETF is like having a picture…

— Robert Kiyosaki (@theRealKiyosaki) July 25, 2025

Over time, he has consistently rejected paper-based assets and instead favored tangible stores of value. His stance remains firm despite growing popularity in spot crypto ETFs. He encouraged individuals to learn the difference between ETFs and the real assets they represent.

Gold ETFs Draw Record Inflows but Still Fall Short for Kiyosaki

Physical Gold continues to dominate global financial flows, with ETFs gaining $38 billion in the first half of the year. The World Gold Council reported that global assets under management reached $383 billion by mid-2025. Holdings surged to 3,616 metric tons, the highest level recorded since August 2022.

North America led the movement with $21 billion in inflows, the region’s strongest performance in five years. European and Asian markets followed closely, posting $6 billion and $11 billion, respectively. Daily trading volumes for gold averaged $329 billion, reflecting strong institutional interest.

Despite these gains, Kiyosaki maintains that gold ETFs only provide paper exposure to the metal’s value. He argues that physical gold carries benefits in economic downturns, unlike ETFs, which are vulnerable to systemic risks. His preference remains grounded in the belief that physical commodities retain value through market disruptions.

Bitcoin ETFs See Reversal Amid Market Volatility

Spot bitcoin ETFs recently broke a 12-day inflow streak by posting $131.35 million in outflows earlier this week. ARKB, managed by Ark & 21Shares, led with $77.46 million in withdrawals. Funds by Grayscale, Fidelity, Bitwise, and VanEck also recorded net outflows, while BlackRock’s IBIT held steady.

🚨 Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States recorded a net outflow of $131,4 million. Thus, the series of 12 consecutive days of capital inflows has been interrupted. pic.twitter.com/WYO4K1r7KC

— Carl Moon (@TheMoonCarl) July 22, 2025

Kiyosaki warned that these ETFs could become traps if major crypto corrections occur. He expects a Bitcoin crash to trigger corrections in gold and silver as well. However, he considers such dips opportunities to buy the real assets at lower prices.

While the crypto market shifts rapidly, Kiyosaki’s stance on Bitcoin ETFs has not softened. He believes holding physical Bitcoin is better than owning a digital share of it through ETFs. He asserts that direct control over assets matters more than convenience offered by fund products.

Ethereum ETFs Gain Momentum but Face Skepticism

Ethereum ETFs continued to show strength with $296.6 million in net inflows on the same day. Fidelity’s FETH led with $126.93 million, followed by BlackRock’s ETHA with $102 million. The surge extended their winning streak to 12 consecutive trading sessions.

This divergence highlights how ethereum has attracted growing institutional interest despite overall market hesitation. Yet, Kiyosaki remains unconvinced by this momentum. He labeled all ETFs as “fake” assets due to their lack of direct ownership.

He also accused them of being tools of traditional financial institutions, calling them “banksters’ traps.” While he recognizes their use for some, he avoids them altogether in his strategy. According to Kiyosaki, owning real asset is always the smarter and safer option.