Gold Beats Bitcoin on Usability, Says Investor Ross Gerber

2 min readPublished 17 Aug 2026Updated 17 Aug 2026, 07:55 UTC

Wealth manager questions Bitcoin’s real-world utility and points to gold and an emerging AI shift instead.

Ross Gerber, a prominent wealth manager, has raised fresh doubts about Bitcoin’s role as a practical financial asset. He argued that gold is easier to use than Bitcoin in real-world transactions, according to a report from U.Today.

A separate report from CoinTurk News described Gerber questioning Bitcoin’s real-world utility more broadly. That report said Gerber also cited a shift toward artificial intelligence as a competing investment narrative.

Gerber is known as a vocal commentator on markets and technology. His skepticism toward Bitcoin’s usability adds to a long-running debate over whether the cryptocurrency functions primarily as a store of value or as a usable currency.

Gold has served as a store of value for centuries and remains widely accepted through established custody, trading, and settlement systems. Bitcoin, by contrast, is a newer asset whose infrastructure for everyday spending and custody is still developing. Comparisons between the two often center on liquidity, transaction speed, and how easily each asset can be converted into goods or services.

The timing of Gerber’s remarks coincides with growing investor attention toward artificial intelligence companies and infrastructure. Some market participants have questioned whether capital that once flowed into digital assets could increasingly move toward AI-related investments instead. Neither report detailed specific figures or investment moves tied to this shift, only that Gerber referenced it as part of his broader argument.

Bitcoin advocates typically counter such criticism by pointing to the asset’s growing institutional adoption, its use in cross-border settlement, and its expanding role in corporate treasuries. Supporters also note that custody solutions and regulated trading venues for Bitcoin have matured significantly in recent years, addressing some of the usability concerns raised by skeptics like Gerber.

The debate over Bitcoin’s practical utility versus its role as digital gold remains unresolved among investors and analysts. Comments from figures with significant market visibility, such as Gerber, tend to reignite this discussion each time they surface.

Market Impact

Public commentary questioning Bitcoin’s usability can influence short-term sentiment, particularly among retail investors weighing the asset against traditional stores of value like gold. However, such remarks typically have limited direct effect on trading volumes or institutional positioning, which tend to be driven more by regulatory developments and macroeconomic conditions.

The reference to an AI-driven shift in investment interest could reflect broader capital allocation trends across sectors. If investor attention continues moving toward AI infrastructure and companies, it could affect relative demand for digital assets, though no specific market data accompanied these comments.

Gerber’s comments add to an ongoing conversation about Bitcoin’s practical role in the financial system, even as its infrastructure and adoption continue to evolve.