Key Takeaways
- Kiyosaki says a historic market crash began in Europe and Japan.
- He points to debt, AI speculation, war, and aging populations.
- Kiyosaki continues to favor bitcoin, gold, and silver over cash.
Kiyosaki Says Global Crash Has Already Started
Robert Kiyosaki says a long-predicted global market crash is already underway and spreading beyond Europe and Japan. The Rich Dad Poor Dad author shared his warning on X on Sept. 15, linking the downturn to several economic, geopolitical, and demographic pressures.
Kiyosaki stated:
“BIGGEST CRASH IN HISTORY has started.”
He described where he believes the downturn began and what is driving it: “In 2026, that crash started in Europe and Japan and is spreading across the world. It’s caused by many factors: the AI frenzy, war in Iran, too much debt, and a retiring Baby Boom generation.”
The timing of his warning coincides with severe pressure in European and Japanese bond markets. In early September, Japan’s 10-year government bond yield reached 3% for the first time since 1996, while borrowing costs in Germany, France, and Britain also climbed to multiyear or multidecade highs, part of a global bond sell-off that lifted U.S. Treasury yields to multiyear highs as well. Rising energy prices, inflation concerns, and heavy government debt loads have added pressure across both regions.
The renowned author warned that people holding retirement assets through 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts, superannuation accounts, or registered retirement savings plans could face heightened exposure, particularly those older than 40. Kiyosaki linked his warning to predictions in his 2002 book, Rich Dad’s Prophecy, and compared the potential downturn with the Great Depression. He argued that severe financial disruptions can reward people who prepare in advance while hurting those heavily exposed to falling markets.
Debt Data and Earlier Crash Calls Put Warning in Context
Government debt provides a broader backdrop to one part of Kiyosaki’s argument. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported in April that global public debt reached nearly 94% of gross domestic product in 2025 and projected the figure would reach 100% by 2029. The IMF also cited mounting interest costs, government spending pressures, and the fiscal effects of conflict in the Middle East.
Kiyosaki has warned of major market crashes for more than two decades, but several of his specific forecasts did not unfold as predicted. He forecast a major stock market crash for 2016 and later said the “biggest stock market crash in history” would arrive in February 2025. Neither prediction produced the historic collapse he had forecast.
Bitcoin Remains Central to Kiyosaki’s Crash Strategy
Kiyosaki described how he has positioned himself for the downturn:
“For years I’ve been stating exactly what I have been doing to prepare and that is personal business, income producing real estate, investing in oil producing wells, saving not cash… But gold, silver, and bitcoin… Knowing the fake money printing will begin.”
His strategy is consistent with positions he took during earlier market declines this year. In February, he confirmed that he was buying more bitcoin after a sharp market crash, treating falling prices as an opportunity to accumulate assets he expects to hold long term.
Bitcoin has remained prominent in Kiyosaki’s preferred mix as economic and geopolitical uncertainty has increased. In April, he named bitcoin among what he regarded as the safest investments in 2026, while linking his outlook to inflation, debt, oil-market disruption, and financial pressure facing retirees.
Kiyosaki has also placed bitcoin ahead of gold when forced to choose between the two assets. In February, he said he would choose bitcoin over gold if limited to only one asset, citing bitcoin’s fixed maximum supply while continuing to support diversification across bitcoin, gold, and silver.
Aging Populations Add Pressure to Kiyosaki’s Warning
Population aging adds a demographic dimension to Kiyosaki’s warning. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported that rapid population aging is partly driven by Baby Boomers moving into old age. Across OECD countries, there were 33 people aged 65 or older for every 100 working-age people (ages 20 to 64) in 2025, with the ratio projected to reach 52 by 2050.
Kiyosaki’s decision to group BTC with gold and silver reflects his view that scarce assets provide an alternative to holding cash during periods of monetary expansion. Bitcoin’s characteristics as a potential store of value alongside fiat currencies and precious metals fit that thesis, particularly its capped supply of 21 million coins.
His latest warning goes further than his earlier calls to accumulate hard assets, with Kiyosaki predicting that fear could escalate into panic and bank runs. He also expects severe financial stress to trigger renewed money printing, reinforcing his preference for businesses, real assets, bitcoin, gold, and silver over cash.
