CNBC host Jim Cramer is once again sounding alarms about cryptocurrencies, urging investors to pull their money from digital assets and focus on stocks instead.
For years, Cramer has oscillated between calling Bitcoin a great alternative investment and warning that it is worthless. However, his timing has often aligned suspiciously with market turning points. Each time he publicly declared crypto dead, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and other assets rebounded not long after.
This recurring pattern has become so well-known that an entire meme economy has formed around it; dubbed the "Inverse Cramer" effect and even inspired an ETF that literally bets against his calls.
This article traces Cramer's most notable crypto predictions, the market's subsequent behaviour, and what his latest remarks could mean for investors navigating today's uncertain financial landscape.
Key Takeaways
- Once again, Jim Cramer has called for investors to move their money out of crypto, echoing a familiar playbook that's often aged poorly.
- His latest remarks come as the S&P 500 trades near record highs while Bitcoin consolidates between — a cooling phase rather than a collapse.
- "Inverse Cramer" Lives On: For many in the crypto community, every bearish Cramer comment is almost viewed as a bullish signal. A meme that keeps proving strangely accurate.
Jim Cramer's Latest Crypto Warning
In a recent broadcast of Mad Money, Jim Cramer voiced his concern over the volatility and speculative nature of cryptocurrencies, suggesting that investors should "focus on real earnings and fundamentals" in the stock market instead.
He emphasized that, unlike equities, cryptocurrencies "don't generate cash flow, dividends, or intrinsic value." His argument reflects a traditional Wall Street stance that crypto remains too risky and sentiment-driven to serve as a long-term investment vehicle.
However, Cramer's critics point out that these same statements have preceded some of Bitcoin's most notable rallies, raising the question: is his warning a genuine caution, or another contrarian signal?
A Timeline of Jim Cramer's Crypto Calls and How the Market Reacted
To understand why investors, pay attention to Jim Cramer's crypto opinions, it helps to review his history of comments, which often mirror market sentiment at its extremes.
15th April 2021 – Jim Cramer Says He Sold Bitcoin to Pay Off His Mortgage
In April 2021, Jim Cramer revealed on CNBC that he had sold a portion of his Bitcoin holdings to pay off his mortgage, calling it "fake money paying for real money."
This was during Bitcoin's strong bull run, when BTC was trading near $60,000. His move reflected both confidence in Bitcoin's liquidity and a cautious profit-taking stance rather than a loss of faith in crypto.
December 5, 2022 — "It's Never Too Late to Sell"
Just weeks after the collapse of FTX, Jim Cramer doubled down on his bearish stance toward crypto. On Mad Money, he told investors, "It's never too late to sell an awful position", warning that most digital assets were "dangerous" and comparing the crypto market to the dot-com bubble.
Bitcoin hovered near $17,000 at the time, and Cramer's remarks drew ridicule across Crypto Twitter, fueling the rise of the "Inverse Cramer" meme; the idea that his calls often precede the opposite outcome.
23rd December 2022 – "I Wouldn't Touch Crypto"
Following the FTX collapse, Jim Cramer declared in a CNBC interview that he "wouldn't touch crypto in a million years." His comments came amid industry-wide panic, as exchanges and lending platforms faced liquidity crises. Bitcoin was trading below $17,000, and Ethereum hovered around $1,200.
While his warning reflected widespread fear, it also coincided almost perfectly with the market's bottom. Within months, Bitcoin began a powerful recovery, doubling in value by mid-2023 — further cementing the "Inverse Cramer" effect.
14th October 2025 – "Move Your Money into Stocks"
Fast forward to today. Jim Cramer's newest call for investors to "move money from crypto into stocks" comes amid a mixed market environment: the S&P 500 remains near record highs. Meanwhile, Bitcoin has been fluctuating, reflecting a period of post-halving consolidation rather than collapse. Despite short-term volatility, analyst note that BTC's structure remains largely intact with traders accumulating within a defined range as market momentum resets. (Also Read)
If past patterns hold true, this type of broad-based pessimism from Cramer could once again signal the late stages of a correction rather than the start of a major downturn. Historically, his skepticism has tended to surface when fear is already priced in.
Why Jim Cramer's Influence Still Matters
Jim Cramer is not just another TV personality; he's a financial influencer with decades of Wall Street experience and millions of viewers. His opinions can shift short-term sentiment among retail investors, particularly those looking for quick direction in volatile markets.
However, crypto's decentralized nature makes it less responsive to individual opinions and more influenced by macroeconomic trends like liquidity cycles, inflation data, and regulatory developments.
As a result, Cramer's statements often function as psychological sentiment markers, rather than fundamental drivers. When legacy voices express despair, it can reflect a broader capitulation phase, which contrarian investors interpret as a buy signal.
The Contrarian Signal: When Fear Peaks, Opportunity Rises
Financial history repeatedly shows that extreme pessimism tends to mark market bottoms. The same applies to Cramer's crypto calls. His most bearish moments, especially December 2022 aligned precisely with periods of maximum market fear, often preceding sharp recoveries. This is not to say investors should blindly "do the opposite of Cramer," but it does emphasize how narratives and sentiment influence timing in speculative markets. Traders who understand this dynamic can identify inflection points that others miss
Conclusion
Jim Cramer's latest call to abandon crypto for stocks might sound like sensible advice to traditional investors but for seasoned market watchers, it feels more like déjà vu. Each time he's warned of crypto's decline, Bitcoin has found a way to rebound stronger.
In a market where sentiment swings faster than price action, Cramer's comments have unintentionally become a contrarian compass. While Wall Street celebrates record stock levels, Bitcoin's quiet consolidation might just be the calm before another run and if history is any guide, "selling when Cramer says sell" might again prove to be the best buy signal of all.
Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

