A new survey by CoinShares indicates that a majority of wealthy investors across seven major economies already hold digital assets, with crypto accounting for approximately 10% of their portfolios on average. The study covered 2,230 investors with at least $500,000 in investable assets in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland. Ownership rates ranged from 54% in Sweden to roughly 70% in the US, UK, Germany, and Switzerland. In five of these countries, at least 85% of existing crypto investors planned to increase their exposure in 2026.
The findings highlight a divergence between investor sentiment and professional advice, as about four in ten respondents in Switzerland, France, the US, and Germany described their financial advisers as overly cautious regarding digital assets. Ric Edelman, founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals, questioned the reported 10% average allocation, suggesting his research indicates current allocations are more commonly between 2% and 5%, though he recommends higher allocations based on risk tolerance. This data emerges amid broader market movements, including Bitcoin’s best third quarter since 2017 and OKX raising additional funding at a $25 billion valuation.
The disconnect between affluent investor behavior and traditional advisory caution suggests a structural shift in how high-net-worth individuals perceive digital assets, moving them from speculative outliers to core portfolio components. While the survey reports an average 10% allocation, skepticism from industry figures like Ric Edelman highlights potential variance in actual holdings versus stated intentions or averages. This gap underscores the lagging adaptation of institutional wealth management frameworks, which remain constrained by fiduciary standards and regulatory uncertainty rather than client demand alone.
Market structure implications are evident as capital continues to flow into crypto infrastructure despite macroeconomic headwinds like elevated Treasury yields. The continued accumulation by entities such as Strategy, alongside venture funding for exchanges like OKX, indicates sustained institutional interest in custody and trading platforms. However, the reliance on specific narratives, such as the debasement trade, requires careful monitoring against shifting monetary policy expectations, particularly as recent employment data alters the probability of further rate hikes.
