TLDR
- Kevin O’Leary says he has re-entered the crypto market and is buying new positions for the next cycle
- He says a major stock exchange adopting a blockchain would be the “watershed moment” for the industry
- O’Leary predicts Bitcoin could hit $1 million if quantum computing risks are resolved
- He sees Bitcoin eventually making up 1% to 3% of alternative-asset allocations, comparing it to gold
- O’Leary does not expect the CLARITY Act to pass before the midterms but expects crypto regulation to return
Kevin O’Leary, the investor known from Shark Tank, has re-entered the crypto market. He made the announcement at the Avalanche Summit in New York, speaking with The Block.
“I’m back in the saddle buying new positions, putting my bets on for this next cycle,” O’Leary said.
He said the next phase of investing is about figuring out which blockchain gets wide adoption and in which sector.
𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛: Kevin O’Leary says he’s back buying crypto for the next cycle
Watching for a major exchange to adopt blockchain, a possible “watershed moment”.
CEOs he talks to are weighing different chains, no clear winner yet. pic.twitter.com/qCgrsXBwyw
— Blockto (@TheBlocktoApp) September 18, 2026
O’Leary said he regularly talks with CEOs across industries about which blockchain they are considering. None of them are choosing the same one.
He sees that lack of consensus as a key factor shaping the market right now.
Watching for a Watershed Moment
O’Leary said the most important development to watch is whether a major stock exchange adopts a blockchain.
He called this a “watershed moment,” saying that once an exchange makes that move, the rest of the financial system would need to follow its lead.
The broader financial ecosystem would then be required to meet that exchange’s requirements, creating a ripple effect across the industry.
No major exchange has made that move yet, and O’Leary is watching closely for it to happen.
Bitcoin’s Price Potential
On Bitcoin, O’Leary said it could eventually account for 1% to 3% of alternative-asset allocations.
He compared this to the level institutions currently hold in gold, saying Bitcoin has room to grow within traditional portfolios.
O’Leary also touched on the CLARITY Act, which recently stalled in the Senate. He said he still expects crypto regulation to return because lawmakers are actively working on tax policy for digital assets.
“If you’re going to provide a tax policy on this asset, you want more regulation, not less,” he said.
He does not expect the bill to pass before the midterms. O’Leary said when governments create a tax structure around an asset, they tend to bring more oversight with it, not less.
In a separate interview, O’Leary said Bitcoin could hit $1 million. But he attached a condition to that prediction.
He said it would only happen if the industry addresses growing concerns around quantum computing, sometimes called “Q-Day.”
Q-Day refers to the fear that quantum computers could eventually break the encryption that protects Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
“It will if it can resolve the doubt creeping in around quantum computing. Breaking the algorithms, and the chains and encryptions,” O’Leary said.
He noted that some investors are already making counter-bets by backing quantum computing startups as a security play. O’Leary said this is a theme he is watching as an investor, separate from his main crypto positions.
Outside of crypto, O’Leary said his AI investments are focused on power infrastructure rather than models, with projects in Norway, Finland, Alberta, and Utah, as well as uranium.
Bitcoin rose over 4% and Avalanche climbed more than 12% around the time of O’Leary’s comments at the Summit.
Be the first to comment