Survey shows financial advisor crypto allocations are set to rise again in 2026

New data from a major crypto investment survey suggests that financial advisor crypto exposure is not only holding firm but is poised to grow further in 2026.

Bitwise/VettaFi survey highlights record advisor commitment to crypto

The eighth annual Bitwise/VettaFi 2026 Benchmark Survey of Financial Advisor Attitudes Toward Crypto Assets shows that 99% of advisors who allocated to crypto in 2025 intend to either maintain or increase that exposure in 2026. Moreover, nearly one-third of all advisors, or roughly 32%, invested in crypto for clients in 2025, a jump of 10% from the prior year.

That said, the survey indicates that not only are more professionals using crypto, but they are also committing larger slices of client portfolios. Roughly 64% of portfolios with digital asset exposure held allocations above 2%, a sharp increase from 51% in 2024. This shift underscores growing comfort with crypto as a strategic component rather than a marginal bet.

More professional financial advisors are also holding crypto personally than at any time since the research began. Approximately 56% of respondents reported owning cryptocurrency in their own portfolios, the highest level of advisor crypto ownership since the survey launched in 2018. However, this personal conviction is now clearly translating into client-facing strategies.

Institutional access is expanding in parallel. According to the report, 42% of advisors can now buy crypto directly in client accounts, up from 35% in 2024 and just 19% in 2023. As trading and custody rails mature, this widening access is likely to further normalize crypto within mainstream wealth management.

Matt Hougan: Advisors embraced crypto like never before in 2025

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan said advisors turned a corner in 2025, embracing crypto as trusted guides for millions of investors. He highlighted that 2025 was a standout year, with Bitcoin (BTC) hitting a new all-time high of about $126K and many altcoins also rallying. Financial professionals were responsible for stewarding trillions of dollars in wealth as those moves unfolded.

Hougan argued that the future of crypto will increasingly hinge on what advisors think and do. For years, observers wondered how advisors would react if digital asset markets faced a bout of volatility. According to Hougan, the answer appears clear: they are preparing to buy more, not exit the space.

He added that as crypto moves deeper into the financial mainstream, enthusiasm from advisors is becoming a decisive factor. In that context, the phrase financial advisor crypto now describes not a niche specialist but a growing cross-section of the advisory industry itself. Moreover, Hougan said his team is encouraged by the rising sophistication of the questions they receive from planners and wealth managers.

“As crypto moves farther into the mainstream, we are excited to see surging interest and enthusiasm from a demographic that has always played a central role in crypto’s future,” Hougan noted. That demographic now spans independent planners to institutional allocators, each reshaping how clients gain exposure.

Todd Rosenbluth, head of research and editorial at TMX VettaFi, also pointed to robust demand for crypto-related ETFs in 2025. However, he cautioned that what happens next is less obvious, as advisors debate the right mix of spot products, equity exposures, and diversified index approaches. That said, Rosenbluth stressed that advisors are increasingly discussing how they and their clients are ramping up digital asset allocations.

Advisors tilt toward crypto equity ETFs and index products

The Bitwise/VettaFi survey found that advisors overwhelmingly favor crypto equity ETFs when planning allocations for 2026. These products, which hold stocks tied to the digital asset ecosystem rather than tokens directly, ranked as the most preferred vehicle for new exposure. Advisors also showed a strong preference for crypto index funds, at 42%, over single-token funds.

Moreover, the research shows that advisors are increasingly funding their crypto positions by trimming other risk assets or cash. About 43% of respondents said they are sourcing client crypto allocations from equities, while 35% are reallocating from cash holdings. This rebalancing pattern suggests that digital assets are now competing directly with traditional portfolio building blocks.

New narratives are also catching attention. According to the survey, 30% of advisors are exploring opportunities linked to stablecoins and tokenization. A further 22% are focused on themes such as “digital gold” and fiat debasement, while 19% are eyeing crypto-related AI investments. However, even with these emerging themes, spot bitcoin and broad-market products still dominate flows.

Who responded to the survey?

Independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) made up the largest share of respondents at 46%. They were followed by independent broker-dealer representatives at 25%, financial planners at 16%, wirehouse representatives at 7%, institutional investors at 3%, and other investment professionals also at 3%. This mix gives the survey significant coverage across the advisory landscape.

Yet crypto ownership levels vary widely by channel. “Other” financial professionals were the most likely to hold digital assets personally, at a striking 89%. They were followed by institutional investors at 75%, RIAs at 50%, financial planners at 45%, and independent broker-dealers at 41%. Moreover, these ownership patterns often mirror how aggressively each cohort allocates for clients.

Client curiosity has also remained intense. In 2025, 94% of advisors said they received crypto-related questions from their clients, underscoring sustained interest. That figure was slightly below 96% in 2024 but above 88% in 2023 and 90% in 2022. However, the long-term trend leaves little doubt that crypto remains top of mind for retail and high-net-worth investors alike.

Rising institutional adoption and the new role of the crypto-focused advisor

The report concludes that institutional crypto adoption is firmly on the rise. Increasingly, financial advisors can access digital assets through familiar account structures, and allocation sizes above 2% are no longer unusual. In practical terms, a modern financial advisor crypto specialist is expected to explain risks, structures, and long-term use cases rather than simply warn clients away.

Moreover, the data shows that client crypto allocations are steadily growing as digital assets move deeper into mainstream finance. Advisors are under mounting pressure to answer detailed questions, select appropriate products, and integrate these positions into holistic plans. In summary, the Bitwise/VettaFi findings suggest that advisor-driven demand will be a key force shaping the next phase of crypto market development.