O’Leary: Invest in Energy Infrastructure Over Bitcoin; Use Coinbase & Robinhood for Crypto Exposure
Billionaire investor Kevin O’Leary argues that in 2025–2026 the best near-term investment is physical energy infrastructure rather than direct Bitcoin ownership. He cites soaring electricity demand from both Bitcoin mining and large-scale AI model training, which compete for high-density, reliable power. O’Leary says energy generation (renewables, natural gas, modular nuclear), grid technology (battery storage, smart-grid software) and compute hardware represent more predictable, lower-volatility plays. He also recommends equity exposure to regulated crypto intermediaries: Robinhood (as an integrated retail bridge) and Coinbase (as an institutional custody and trading platform likely to grow after regulatory clarity). The thesis echoes broader institutional analysis pointing to capital expenditure growth in energy-intensive data centers and positions “picks-and-shovels” (energy + financial infrastructure) as a diversified strategy to capture crypto ecosystem growth while mitigating token volatility. This view highlights investment opportunities across energy assets, grid storage, and financial infrastructure rather than pure Bitcoin speculation. Keywords: Kevin O’Leary, energy infrastructure, Bitcoin, Bitcoin mining, AI, Coinbase, Robinhood, battery storage, renewables.
Neutral
O’Leary’s thesis is structural rather than token-specific and therefore is unlikely to produce an immediate directional shock to crypto prices. The recommendation to shift capital toward energy infrastructure and regulated intermediaries is bullish for companies in the energy, storage and exchange/custody sectors (renewables, battery makers, data-center operators, COIN, HOOD) but neutral-to-mixed for spot Bitcoin demand in the short term. Historically, similar narratives—such as post-2021 mining relocations—supported capex into infrastructure and regional mining growth without directly causing sustained BTC price moves. Short-term implications: traders may see rotation flows into energy and infrastructure equities and into custody/exchange stocks on positive headlines, while BTC could trade sideways as capital allocates to ‘picks-and-shovels.’ Volatility could rise around regulatory developments for exchanges. Long-term implications: if energy bottlenecks and increased demand from AI persist, higher valuations for energy and infrastructure assets could be sustained, supporting long-term institutional crypto adoption (via regulated venues) and gradually increasing Bitcoin mining capacity in compliant jurisdictions. Overall, the piece suggests portfolio diversification opportunities rather than a straightforward bullish or bearish signal for cryptocurrency prices.