Investor curiosity in digital property may be rising, however considerations concerning the safety and regulatory uncertainty across the asset class imply that Bitcoin and crypto ETFs stay the almost definitely avenues for allocation. These had been among the many findings of a latest survey administered by CoinShares, a world funding agency specializing in digital property.
CoinShares discovered that 56% of surveyed buyers are most all for placing their cash in Bitcoin. Tokenized property, or NFTs, got here in a distant second with 32%, adopted by Ethereum (30%) and stablecoins (28%).
When it got here to autos by way of which buyers had been almost definitely to allocate to digital property, buyers didn’t have a clear-cut desire. They confirmed a slight desire for ETFs or trusts, with 28% of respondents citing them, adopted intently by conventional brokerage platforms (24%), centralized exchanges (21%), custodial funding platforms accessible by way of their monetary advisors for digital asset funding (16%) and decentralized exchanges (10%).
Various funding platforms have been creating their digital asset choices just lately. For instance, in early Might, crypto asset supervisor Bitwise grew to become the primary agency to supply its property by way of different funding platform iCapital. These investments require a minimal of $250,000 and are solely out there to certified purchasers.
What Buyers Need From Monetary Advisors
Most surveyed buyers indicated they wish to work with a monetary advisor on investing in digital property. For instance, 78% of buyers with no such holdings expressed this desire, together with 93% of sub-HNW buyers—these with between $500,000 and $1 million in investible property. As well as, 53% of all buyers mentioned they belief their monetary advisor essentially the most for correct insights into the asset class. 4 in 5 buyers, or 82%, mentioned they’d be extra more likely to work with an advisor who provided steering on digital property.
“Digital asset adoption is advancing quickly amongst buyers who’re self-educated and actively concerned—however that doesn’t imply they wish to go it alone,” mentioned Jean-Marie Mognetti, CEO of CoinShares, in an announcement. “They’re searching for advisors who can function strategic companions, not product pushers. There’s a vital alternative for advisors who spend money on their very own credibility to distinguish themselves in a aggressive market.”
Buyers are most all for getting recommendation on threat evaluation and threat administration methods from their advisors (50%). Furthermore, 48% mentioned they want personalized portfolio allocation methods, and 46% are searching for safe custody and asset safety suggestions. Forty-four p.c cited each entry to institutional-grade merchandise and assist navigating crypto tax rules and reporting necessities.
About half of these surveyed (49%) mentioned their most popular channel for studying extra about digital property could be one-on-one periods with their advisor. Forty-six p.c mentioned they needed to be taught by way of in-depth video tutorials or programs, and 44% most popular academic articles or weblog posts.
On the identical time, 29% of buyers view it as a purple flag when an advisor lacks private expertise with digital property, and one other 29% are cautious when these property are beneficial with out discussing potential dangers.
General Curiosity in Digital Property
The survey discovered that 75% of all respondents, together with these with no present publicity, have an curiosity in digital property. Fifty-three p.c mentioned they wish to be taught extra concerning the asset class, whereas 22% are planning to spend money on the close to future. 1 / 4 of these surveyed mentioned they’ve no real interest in digital property. Sub-HNW buyers had been considerably extra more likely to plan a near-term funding, at 36%. Solely 13% of high-net-worth buyers deliberate to take action.
The highest causes for investing in digital property included excessive return potential from buying and selling and hypothesis (26%), long-term capital appreciation (19%) and curiosity in blockchain know-how and innovation (18%). Amongst buyers who’ve but to allocate cash to those property, 54% mentioned they had been most attracted by potential portfolio diversification. One other 39% cited long-term capital appreciation.
The highest considerations round investing in digital property deal with potential safety dangers, similar to hacking and fraud, amongst each buyers and monetary advisors (54% for each). One other 52% of buyers and 49% of advisors stay involved about regulatory uncertainty. Volatility was a priority for 51% of buyers and 42% of advisors, whereas 51% of buyers and 53% of advisors mentioned they discovered it troublesome to precisely measure the worth of digital property.
Whereas investing in digital property can convey increased returns, allocations that rise above roughly 2% of a portfolio can considerably improve threat focus, in accordance with earlier findings from Wilshire Indexes.
As well as, digital property nonetheless include heightened considerations round fraud. Most just lately, Oregon’s Lawyer Basic filed a grievance towards the nation’s largest crypto buying and selling platform Coinbase for violating state securities legislation. The lawsuit alleges the agency pocketed thousands and thousands in charges because it operated an alternate that bought unregistered securities. The SEC beforehand tried to sue Coinbase for permitting the commerce of unregistered crypto tokens in 2023, however dropped its case after its senior crypto coverage advisor was demoted in January.
CoinShares performed its survey on-line between April 15 and April 24, 2025. It included responses from roughly 250 buyers and mixed them with the outcomes of a survey of 250 U.S. monetary advisors it performed in February 2025.
