Bitcoin has been called many things over the years.
A currency. Digital gold . A hedge against inflation. Despite the debate about Bitcoin as money, most users treat it like an asset. They buy it, hold it, and think about how it fits into long-term financial planning.
During a recent interview with TheStreet Roundtable , SALT Lending's Chief Revenue Officer Hunter Albright described Bitcoin less as a theoretical technology and more as a practical tool for building wealth, saying, "It's a store of value right now."
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Why Bitcoin is now a wealth building tool
After speaking with users across multiple regions, he said one pattern keeps showing up.
"I think the biggest global problem that Bitcoin is addressing is building wealth," Albright stated.
As more traditional wealth building tools such as home ownership are increasingly out of reach for young investors, people are moving savings into Bitcoin as a way to protect long term value.
"One of the biggest drivers that is definitely consistent around the world is that Gen Z cannot get into buying a home," he said. "For my parents and even for my generation, buying a home was the gold standard for how you started on your wealth journey."
Without that option, younger savers are looking for alternatives that reward long term discipline.
"I'm hopeful that Bitcoin can really be not necessarily the only tool, but a key tool in helping Gen Z and future generations build wealth," he said.
This does not mean Bitcoin will stop evolving, but Albright said its primary role is unlikely to change anytime soon. Even if Bitcoin's price rises dramatically, he expects it to function mainly as a way to preserve value rather than facilitate everyday spending.
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Alternatives to selling
Crypto backed lending has become a popular option for long time Bitcoin holders in recent years.
"One of the things that we see people do a lot to live a Bitcoin-powered life is they'll borrow against the Bitcoin into fiat for what they need, when they need it," Albright explained.
That strategy allows users to tap liquidity without selling the asset they are trying to protect.
For now, Bitcoin's identity appears less conflicted than critics suggest. In a world where traditional paths to wealth are narrowing, its role as a long term store of value is becoming stronger, not weaker.
This story was originally published by TheStreet on Jan 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
