67% of wealth managers lack crypto allocation, Bitwise survey shows
In brief
- Bitwise poll: 67% of wealth managers have zero crypto allocation for clients
- 60% plan to add crypto allocations within the next 12 months
- 32% of advisors allocated crypto in 2025, up from 22% in 2024—a 45% year-over-year increase
- XRP generated the most client inquiries at the Bitwise event
The allocation gap
Two out of three wealth managers still have zero crypto in their client portfolios. That disparity stands even as 60% of those same respondents said they plan to add a crypto allocation within the next 12 months. The disconnect between current holdings and near-term intent suggests the wealth management industry is at an inflection point—many firms acknowledge crypto's relevance but haven't yet moved capital.
The broader trend supports this reading. According to the 2026 Bitwise/VettaFi Benchmark Survey, 32% of financial advisors had allocated to crypto for clients in 2025, up from 22% in 2024, representing a roughly 45% year-over-year jump in adoption. Capability is also expanding: 42% of advisors said they could buy crypto for clients in 2025, compared to 35% the year before.
Client interest and expectations
XRP drew the most inquiries from attendees at the Bitwise event, signaling where client curiosity concentrates. Sentiment on price direction is broadly bullish—60% of poll respondents said they expected crypto prices to be higher by the end of 2026.
"The wealth managers who have already allocated are building track records and client relationships around crypto exposure. Those who haven't may find themselves increasingly needing to explain why, especially if prices continue rising as the majority of respondents expect."
Caveats on the survey
The poll was an informal audience poll at a Bitwise event, not a randomized, statistically rigorous survey of the entire wealth management industry. Self-selection bias may have influenced the poll results, as attendees at a crypto asset manager's presentation are likely more crypto-curious than average advisors. Readers should treat the headline numbers as directional rather than representative of the full universe of wealth managers. Still, the upward trajectory in adoption rates from the Bitwise/VettaFi benchmark data suggests genuine momentum across the advisory space, even if this particular poll skews toward a more engaged audience.
