Should You Forget Bitcoin and Buy Franco-Nevada Instead?

By Reuben Gregg Brewer – Mar 6, 2026 at 5:39AM ESTKey PointsBitcoin is a highly volatile cryptocurrency.Franco-Nevada is a streaming and royalty company that provides exposure to precious metals and the opportunity for growth.Investing is complicated, and during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, it gets even more difficult. For many investors, it makes sense to include an investment that is considered a store of wealth as a hedge against adversity. Historically, that role was played by gold, but now some look to Bitcoin (BTC 3.88%) and other cryptocurrencies to fill it. A better choice might be Franco-Nevada (FNV 2.53%). Here's why. What is the point of owning a store of wealth? While some market watchers suggest the stock market is efficient, anyone who invests in it knows it can be wildly unpredictable over short periods. In the end, investor emotions are a big driver of near-term market performance, which is why it can make sense to own an investment that has value beyond the stock market. Image source: Getty Images. Traditionally, gold has been a key store of wealth. In fact, during turbulent times, investors often buy gold in an attempt to protect themselves from potential stock declines. More recently, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been used to fill this role, since they aren't controlled by a government entity. The problem is that the value of Bitcoin is largely dictated by investor emotions, just like stocks. Moreover, the safe-haven value of crypto hasn't really been tested by a deep and prolonged bear market. In fact, as geopolitical turmoil has increased, Bitcoin's price has been plunging. The price of gold, by contrast, has been hovering near all-time highs. Franco-Nevada is a gold alternative The big problem with gold is that an ounce of the precious metal will only ever be an ounce of gold. There's no growth opportunity; the price has to increase for you to make any money. Franco-Nevada is a gold streaming and royalty company. It provides gold miners cash up front for the right to buy precious metals at reduced rates in the future, which effectively locks in a profit on the sale of those metals. ExpandNYSE: FNVFranco-NevadaToday's Change(-2.53%) $-6.62Current Price$255.35Key Data PointsMarket Cap$49BDay's Range$247.41 - $258.1552wk Range$140.03 - $285.67Volume149Avg Vol809KGross Margin71.99%Dividend Yield0.60% Franco-Nevada is one of the largest companies that does this. And it is always on the lookout for new investment opportunities, which allows it to grow its business over time. And since it doesn't actually operate any mines and has a large collection of streaming deals, it is a lower-risk choice than buying a gold miner. Meanwhile, the fact that it basically buys gold at advantageous prices means it is more closely tied to gold prices than a miner, which has to pay for and operate mines. If you are looking at Bitcoin as a safe-haven investment, you might want to broaden your search to include gold. And in the gold space, streamer Franco-Nevada could end up being the investment you really want to own.Read NextMar 6, 2026 •By Emma NewberyPrediction Markets Put Just 11% Odds on Bitcoin Reaching $150,000 by Year-End -- Is That Too Bearish?Mar 6, 2026 •By Alex Carchidi1 Number That Shows Why Bitcoin Will Go Higher in the Long TermMar 6, 2026 •By Alex CarchidiThe Best Cryptocurrency to Buy With $500 Right Now (If You're Thinking Long Term)Mar 6, 2026 •By Dominic Basulto2 Reasons to Buy Bitcoin Before June 2026Mar 6, 2026 •By Dominic BasultoHow Buying Bitcoin Today Could 10x Your Net WorthMar 6, 2026 •By Alex CarchidiBetter Cryptocurrency to Buy and Hold for 10 Years or More: Bitcoin vs. CardanoAbout the AuthorReuben Gregg Brewer is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, utilities, REITs, and consumer staples. He is the former director of research at Value Line Publishing, where he rose from mutual fund analyst to equity analyst before leading all research operations. Reuben holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Purchase, a master’s in social work from Columbia University, and an MBA from Regis University. He has been featured as a financial expert on CNBC and in the Financial Times, Barron’s, and InvestmentNews.TMFReubenGBrewerStocks MentionedBitcoinCRYPTO: BTC$69,974.00(-3.88%)-$2,821.89Franco-NevadaNYSE: FNV$255.35(-2.53%)-$6.62*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.