The adoption of cryptocurrency assets among US financial advisors is growing and intensifying, according to new research.
Advisors are embracing digital assets more broadly and deeply than in any prior year, while rising institutional access, renewed optimism, and emerging investment themes are reshaping how advisors think about crypto in client portfolios heading into 2026.
The eighth annual Bitwise/VettaFi 2026 Benchmark Survey of Financial Advisor Attitudes Toward Crypto Assets found that crypto allocations by advisors reached an all-time high last year. The report points to a year defined by advancing regulation, expanding institutional participation, and new Bitcoin price records as key drivers behind growing advisor engagement.
The percentage of advisors who report being able to buy crypto directly in client accounts rose to 42% in 2025, up from 35% in 2024 and just 19% in 2023. Greater platform access and custody solutions are reducing friction that previously limited implementation, making it easier for advisors to translate client interest into portfolio action.
Allocations are not limited to Bitcoin, despite the strong surge seen for the leading crypto last year.
When asked about the most compelling areas of focus for the coming year, stablecoins and tokenization led the list, drawing interest from 30% of respondents. Another 22% cited “digital gold” and hedging against fiat debasement, while 19% pointed to crypto-related artificial intelligence investments as a theme to watch. The data suggest advisors are beginning to view digital assets as a multi-sector ecosystem rather than a single-asset trade.
However, Bitcoin remains in focus with almost two thirds of advisors expecting the cryptocurrency to trade higher one year from now, although there are similarly optimistic outlooks for Ethereum and other major digital assets. This bullish sentiment aligns with rising personal ownership among advisors, reinforcing the idea that many practitioners are gaining conviction through firsthand experience.
"Crypto's future has always depended on what financial advisors think of it," said Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan. "They are trusted guides to millions of families and responsible for stewarding trillions of dollars in wealth. And in 2025, advisors embraced crypto like never before. As crypto moves farther into the mainstream, we're excited to see surging interest and enthusiasm from a demographic that has always played a central role in crypto's future."
Volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and internal firm restrictions continue to hold some advisors back from offering crypto exposure. But the survey notes that concern around regulation has eased compared with prior years, reflecting clearer rules and broader institutional acceptance.
Perhaps most telling is the staying power once advisors commit with 99% of respondents who currently have an allocation to crypto in client accounts planning to either maintain or increase that exposure this year.
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