A survey by CoinShares found that most affluent investors in seven major economies are increasing their holdings of digital assets, despite financial advisers remaining overly cautious about cryptocurrencies. The survey, which included 2,230 investors with at least $500,000 in investable assets, revealed that digital assets make up around 10% of portfolios on average. Ownership of crypto ranged from 54% in Sweden to 70% in the US, UK, Germany, and Switzerland. At least 85% of current investors in five of the seven countries said they planned to increase their exposure in 2026, with 91% in the US, UK, and Germany. The February 2026 market downturn did not deter this trend, as more respondents said the sell-off made them more likely to invest in digital assets than less likely. Bitcoin remained the most widely held digital asset, owned by 80% of investors on average, though 89% of BTC investors also held other digital assets. Ric Edelman, founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals, noted that advisers are often not encouraged to discuss crypto or offer related investments to clients, leading to a lack of awareness about client holdings.
Edelman challenged CoinShares’ finding that crypto allocations among affluent investors average around 10%, suggesting his research indicates more common allocations of 2% to 5%. He recommended allocations ranging from 10% to 40%, depending on risk tolerance. Despite questioning the survey’s figure, Edelman recommended 10% for conservative portfolios, 25% for moderate portfolios, and 40% for aggressive portfolios. He said that as the asset class matures, 10% allocations or higher will become the norm. The report also highlighted broader skepticism about using crypto for retirement savings, with an August survey finding that 77% of Americans considered cryptocurrency in workplace retirement plans risky.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents believed Bitcoin would play a significant role in the future global financial system, while 79% supported increased regulation of digital asset markets.