Despite a 67% allocation gap, wealth managers still show strong interest in cryptocurrencies

Wealth managers 'interest in cryptocurrencies far exceeds their actual allocation

Core points:

• There is a huge gap between wealth managers' current allocation of cryptoassets and future intentions, with 67% of respondents not currently allocating, while 60% plan to increase exposure.
• Similarly, 60% of respondents expect cryptocurrency prices to be above current levels by the end of 2026, which, despite limited exposure, suggests a constructive market view.
• During Bitwise's presentation, XRP attracted the most questions, while Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Hyperliquid, stablecoins and tokenization also attracted attention.
• Survey data from Bitwise and VettaFi shows that 32% of consultants have configured crypto assets in 2025, and another 42% said they can purchase crypto assets for customer accounts.

An informal Bitwise poll showed that 67% of approximately 400 wealth managers have no allocation of crypto assets in their client portfolios. The same audience group signals potential future needs. 60% plan to increase exposure within 12 months, and another 60% expect cryptocurrency prices to be above current levels by the end of 2026. The specific allocation scale was not mentioned in the public disclosure. These responses capture interest and intention, but they do not represent a random sample survey of the entire industry.

Participants participated in a Bitwise demonstration event that may have attracted professionals who already pay close attention to digital assets. As such, this poll shows the distance between discussion and implementation within companies today. It also captures how global wealth managers view bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins, tokenization and related investment products.

Wealth managers 'interest in cryptocurrencies far exceeds its actual allocation

Bitwise Research Director Ryan Rasmussen shared the poll after attending with Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan. The conference covered Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Hyperliquid, stablecoins, tokenization and the changing regulatory environment. Rasmussen said XRP triggered the most questions from participants.

Source: LinkedIn

This time, XRP should be juxtaposed with the large assets typically discussed by anchor institutions. Bitcoin provides the main reference asset for the market, while Ethereum and Solana represent exposure to the blockchain network. stablecoins and tokenization have led discussions to payments, settlements, and digital forms of traditional assets.

60% of wealth managers said they plan to increase their allocation of crypto assets in the next year. The same proportion of respondents expect prices to be higher than current levels by the end of 2026. These answers link planned portfolio exposure to constructive market views. Neither answer specified specific assets, tools or configuration sizes.

The poll also did not show how many participants had started the internal approval process. One manager may support crypto exposure, but the company limits purchases to exchange-traded products. Another company may require investment committee review, approval from a custodian or additional customer disclosure before implementation.

The difference between interest and completed purchases is evident in the design of the survey. It records what participants said during a presentation. It does not measure account balances, new deposits, or purchases completed after the event ends.

Why wealth managers are still postponing first crypto asset allocations

Broader Bitwise and VettaFi research suggests that adoption rates are rising over time. Their 2026 Benchmark Survey found that 32% of financial advisers allocated crypto assets to customer accounts in 2025. This figure increases from 22% in 2024. The survey also found that 42% of people can purchase crypto assets for customers, compared to 35% in 2024 and 19% in 2023.

The Bitwise/VettaFi 2026 benchmark survey tracks financial advisers 'attitudes, preferred investment tools and market themes. It provides a broader reference point for campaign polls, although the two sets of samples measure different groups and use different methods.

As a result, the latest audience results fall somewhere between broader access and limited implementation. More and more companies are now providing customers with access to crypto assets. However, this approach may still involve custody, compliance, valuation, liquidity, tax and reporting reviews. Wealth managers must also explain volatility and applicability issues before placing digital assets in customer accounts.

The meeting topics showed that professional issues have transcended Bitcoin. Participants asked questions about XRP, and the presentation also covered Ethereum, Solana, Hyperliquid, stablecoins and tokenization. This suggests that the conversation now includes networks, settlement tools and asset-backed digital tools.

Existing crypto portfolios also show a larger allocation share of more than 2%, but no specific percentage was provided. It also did not identify the type of account involved. This missing detail prevents us from making direct comparisons with the 67 percent who reported no current exposure.

For wealth managers, operational rules can determine when interests shift to configurations. Companies may require approved platforms, independent custody, transaction records, risk disclosures and suitability reviews. Bitwise polls document planned activity, and these controls determine whether any customer funds actually flow.