Coincatch App
Trade smarter
Hot Topics
Buffett’s Farewell Letter: “I Will Go Quiet”
Beginner
2025-11-12 | 5m
On November 10, 2025, Warren Buffett, the 95-year-old legendary investor, published his final shareholder letter, marking the conclusion of his six-decade leadership at Berkshire Hathaway. He announced his decision to "go quiet," stepping down as CEO by year-end while ensuring a seamless transition to his successor, Greg Abel. This momentous event has sparked global discussions, particularly as it coincides with a period of unprecedented volatility and innovation in financial markets, including the rise of cryptocurrencies, an asset class Buffett famously avoided. His departure symbolizes not just a corporate transition but a philosophical crossroads for investors worldwide.
📜 Core Messages From the Farewell Letter
The letter represents more than a retirement announcement, which encapsulates Buffett's final corporate arrangements, personal reflections, and enduring wisdom:
| Category | Key Content |
| Professional Farewell | Announced he would "go quiet," ceasing to write Berkshire's annual letters or deliver lengthy speeches at annual shareholder meetings. |
| Succession Plan | Confirmed Greg Abel would assume the CEO role by year-end, praising him as an "exceptional manager, tireless worker, and honest communicator" while expressing full confidence. |
| Philanthropic Donations | Completed the donation of over $1.3 billion worth of Berkshire Class B shares to four family foundations, including the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. |
| Personal Reflections | Attributed his lifetime achievements largely to luck—being born in 1930s America as a white male with inherent advantages. |
| Final Advice | Shared enduring wisdom including: "Choose your role models and strive to be like them," "Greatness lies not in money, fame, or power, but in doing good," and "You can never be perfect, but you can always get better." |
A Farewell to Leadership: Transition and Continuity
Buffett’s retirement plan, carefully orchestrated over the years, ensures Berkshire Hathaway’s stability under new leadership. Greg Abel, a Berkshire veteran since the 1990s, will assume the CEO role in December 2025. Buffett praised Abel as an "exceptional manager, tireless worker, and honest communicator," expressing full confidence in his ability to steer the company. This orderly succession underscores Buffett’s belief in
disciplined governance—a principle often overlooked in crypto projects, where leadership changes can trigger panic or protocol chaos.
Notably, Buffett will retain a "significant portion" of Berkshire A-shares to reassure shareholders during the transition. This gesture highlights the importance of
aligning incentives between founders and stakeholders. In crypto, analogous practices include token lock-ups for team members or transparent vesting schedules, which mitigate dump risks and build trust. Buffett’s gradual exit exemplifies how legacy institutions prioritize stability, while many crypto initiatives prioritize speed—a trade-off that demands reconsideration as the industry matures.
The Wisdom of Simplicity: Buffett’s Core Investment Principles
Buffett’s investing philosophy, distilled over decades, revolves around timeless rules:
"Don’t lose money," focus on long-term value, and maintain patience during market euphoria or panic. He famously avoided complex instruments he couldn’t understand, including cryptocurrencies, which he once dismissed as "rat poison squared". Yet, his principles indirectly critique crypto’s excesses. For instance, his emphasis on
economic moats challenges DeFi projects lacking sustainable advantages or real revenue.
Similarly, Buffett’s caution against "being deceived by earnings" parallels the need to scrutinize crypto metrics liketotal value locked (TVL) or transaction volume, which can be manipulated. His preference for
steady compoundingover rapid gains contrasts sharply with crypto’s culture of leverage and yield farming. However, his advice to "bet big" on high-conviction opportunities aligns with the strategy of Bitcoin maximalists who concentrate wealth on assets they believe will dominate long-term.
Luck, Legacy, and the Crypto Opportunity Gap
Buffett humbly attributed his success to "luck," citing his birth in 1930s America as a white male with innate advantages. This acknowledgement resonates in crypto, where
geographic and socioeconomic factors shape access to opportunities. While decentralized networks promise inclusivity, mining costs, regulatory barriers, and knowledge gaps still exclude billions.
Buffett’s philanthropic efforts—donating over $13 billion in Berkshire shares to family foundations—also highlight a
wealth redistribution model that crypto could improve. Blockchain-based philanthropy, exemplified by projects likeGiveCrypto or The Giving Block, can enhance transparency and reduce overhead. Yet, Buffett’s structured approach contrasts with crypto’s often ad-hoc charity initiatives.
A Warning Against Greed
In his letter, Buffett critiqued corporate greed, noting that CEO envy drives reckless decision-making. This mirrors crypto’s
speculative frenzies, where meme coin pumps and NFT bubbles lure investors into irrational bets. Buffett’s admonition to "avoid looking at the ticker every minute" is particularly relevant for traders glued to price charts during altcoin season.
His advice to
"never compromise on valuation" admonishes projects with unsustainable tokenomics. For example, many DeFi protocols offer inflated APYs to attract liquidity, only to collapse when emissions decline. Buffett’s discipline—holding $400 billion in cash amid overvalued markets—teaches the power of
waiting for the right entry points. In crypto, this could mean accumulating BTC during bear markets rather than FOMO-buying at.
📉 Impact on Berkshire Hathaway's Stock Price
The confirmation of Buffett's departure has had tangible effects on Berkshire's valuation, primarily manifesting through two key channels:
Market Expectations and the "Buffett Premium" Erosion Since Buffett first revealed his retirement plans in May, Berkshire's shares had already been under pressure. By November, Class A shares had declined approximately 8% from their May peak. This trend reflects market concerns about the post-Buffett era, with what analysts term the "Buffett Premium" gradually dissipating. Buffett's unparalleled reputation has long served as a cornerstone of investor confidence, and his departure inevitably causes some investors to reconsider their positions.
Analyst Concerns and Rare "Sell" Ratings Even before the farewell letter, market anxiety was evident. In October 2025, investment firm KBW took the unusual step of issuing an "underperform" (equivalent to sell) rating on Berkshire's Class A shares, citing concerns about earnings prospects, Buffett's succession, and macroeconomic risks. Specific analyst worries included competitive pressures facing the company's insurance operations (particularly GEICO), weak rail freight volumes, and challenges in generating meaningful returns on the company's massive cash reserves amid a low-interest-rate environment.
Conclusion:
Warren Buffett’s farewell letter transcends a corporate transition; it offers a mirror for the crypto industry to reflect on its evolution. His emphasis on
long-term value, ethical governance, and patient capital provides a counter-narrative to crypto’s get-rich-quick narratives. While his skepticism toward digital assets is well-known, his principles—if adapted—could help build more resilient protocols and sustainable investment strategies.
As Buffett exits the stage, the crypto community would be wise to heed his final words:
"You can never be perfect, but you can always get better". Whether through improving security, fostering regulatory clarity, or designing equitable token economies, the pursuit of "better" aligns with both Buffett’s legacy and crypto’s promise. The greatest tribute to his wisdom would be for crypto to mature into an asset class that even a value investor might one day respect.
References:
Buffett, W. (2025, November 10).
Farewell letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. Berkshire Hathaway. Retrieved November 12, 2025, from
https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/2025.pdf
CoinCatch Team
Disclaimer:
Digital asset prices carry high market risk and price volatility. You should carefully consider your investment experience, financial situation, investment objectives, and risk tolerance. CoinCatch is not responsible for any losses that may occur. This article should not be considered financial advice.
Share
