Podcast Summary: "Grant Cardone: I’m Going ALL IN On Bitcoin"
The Wolf Of All Streets — Host: Scott Melker
Guest: Grant Cardone
Date: February 22, 2026
Episode Overview
In this high-energy, candid discussion, Scott Melker sits down with real estate mogul and entrepreneur Grant Cardone to explore his bold strategy of integrating Bitcoin into traditional real estate investment. Cardone dives into his latest ventures, the mechanics behind his hybrid real estate-Bitcoin fund, and his ambition to accumulate 10,000 BTC. The episode delves into the business logic, regulatory hurdles, and economic philosophies driving Cardone’s approach, offering listeners a rare look into how major players are bridging legacy finance and crypto.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Grant's Bitcoin Strategy & Ambitions
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From Early Holder to All-In Allocation
- Grant Cardone explains his early, almost accidental, exposure to Bitcoin ("I was given 115 pieces... worth $513 at the time... and I kind of just forgot about it." – Cardone, 01:13-01:34).
- Over the years, he’s monitored the price cycles, ultimately deciding to proactively accumulate BTC with a current goal of 10,000 coins.
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Setting Targets in Business & Investing
- Cardone credits his career-long discipline of setting clear targets for driving growth in sales, writing, and now asset accumulation ("Everything starts for me with a target." – Cardone, 02:16).
- His BTC goal is driven by a similar process to his real estate ambitions, consistently raising the bar as milestones are approached.
Combining Real Estate and Bitcoin: The Hybrid Model
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How the Structure Works
- Cardone attaches Bitcoin to real estate deals, allocating the difference between the replacement cost and the purchase price of an asset into Bitcoin ("If the real estate cost a billion... I could buy it for 700 million, I'm gonna fill up that 300 million with Bitcoin." – Cardone, 07:07).
- The hybrid fund appeals to traditional real estate investors seeking cash flow, depreciation, and a “hope note” on BTC’s future upside.
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Investor Reactions & Market Segmentation
- Surprisingly, Cardone’s new investors are mostly not from the crypto space but real estate-oriented individuals who see BTC as a “flyer” or bonus exposure (09:21-09:25).
- "80% of the people... owned no bitcoin." – Cardone, 13:08
The Impact of Market Volatility
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Managing Downturns
- Investors in the fund are long-term-focused and have not panicked during Bitcoin price drops, understanding the real estate’s steady cash flow serves as ballast (11:49-12:12).
- Cardone describes his personal discomfort with price swings but emphasizes the logic of holding over panic-selling.
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Upside Opportunities
- "Our first piece of real estate... bitcoin probably moved 40% from our entry... You don't have a 40% gain in real estate ever." – Cardone, 11:40-11:49
Regulatory Hurdles & Democratization of Investment
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Tokenization & Legal Friction
- Cardone is exploring tokenizing both the real estate and Bitcoin components but is wary of the immense tax reporting and compliance burdens, especially with active secondary trading (15:22-15:39).
- "How can I possibly keep up with that?" – Cardone, 15:22
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The Plight of the Non-Accredited Investor
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Cardone is passionate about democratizing access to high-quality investments and criticizes current US laws excluding non-accredited investors, noting the irony that Americans can spend freely on tattoos or gambling but not on private placements (16:35-17:44).
"98% of America is non accredited. Which who needs the best, the better investments?" — Grant Cardone (16:35)
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He advocates for financial literacy testing rather than wealth-based barriers, arguing that net worth does not equal investment sophistication (17:58).
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Disruption of Traditional Players
- Unique Moat and Competitive Advantage
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Cardone declares his real estate-Bitcoin hybrid creates a financial product that major REITs and institutional investors can’t replicate due to regulatory, operational, and cultural inertia.
"This is my perfect moat. They can never do this." — Grant Cardone (20:54; echoed at open)
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Negative Bitcoin press and volatility have spooked competitors, giving Cardone a perceived head start to expand his vehicle before others catch up.
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Notable Quotes & Moments
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On perpetual goal setting and drive:
"I've never achieved... any goal that I've ever written. Because what happens is on the way there... you move it." (Cardone, 02:59-03:21)
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On risk and confidence:
"The amount of the score is not as important as how many times I can score consistently because I started getting this euphoria and confidence." (Cardone, 05:23)
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On the challenge of scaling through non-accredited investment:
"The amount of paperwork... just legal on that document will be probably $90,000." (Cardone, 20:00)
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On the business logic of Bitcoin in the portfolio:
"Now adding bitcoin to the mix gives me and our investors an explosive upside... the real play... is I'm going to create... a new financial asset over time... a biological kind of transformation financial vehicle." (Cardone, 21:20-21:42)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Topic | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Grant's Bitcoin history and philosophy | 00:00-02:16 | | How targets drive Cardone’s business and investment process | 02:09-03:17 | | Portfolio mechanics: Real estate + Bitcoin hybrid explained | 06:52-08:18 | | Investor reactions and segmentation | 09:21-10:07 | | Downturn management and investor psychology | 11:27-12:12 | | Regulatory hurdles and tokenization debate | 14:21-15:42 | | The non-accredited investor debate | 16:30-18:37 | | Unique moat vs. traditional finance [REITs/competitors] | 20:54-22:30 | | Timeline to 10,000 BTC and future vision | 22:30-23:46 |
Closing Thoughts
Cardone concludes with a reaffirmation of his long-term vision, stating that neither he nor his investors are motivated by short-term swings. Instead, they believe in compounding the asymmetric upside of Bitcoin with the stable, cash-flow orientated nature of real estate. Cardone’s approach is both a challenge to the status quo and an experiment in financial engineering—one he expects will create new categories of wealth vehicles in the years to come.
