A landmark survey by Bitwise Asset Management and VettaFi reveals a significant surge in cryptocurrency adoption among U.S. financial advisors. The 2026 Benchmark Survey of Financial Advisor Attitudes Toward Crypto Assets found that 32% of financial advisors allocated to crypto in client accounts in 2025, a substantial increase from 22% in 2024 and an all-time high for the survey series.
The survey, which collected 299 eligible responses from October 31 to December 8, 2025, attributes this growth to a "headline year for digital assets." Key drivers include Bitcoin's rally to a $126,000 all-time high in 2025 and faster progress on U.S. regulatory clarity, notably the GENIUS Act which helped push stablecoins further into the mainstream.
Client demand remains a powerful force, with 94% of advisors reporting they received crypto-related questions from clients in 2025. Furthermore, 56% of advisors now own crypto in their personal portfolios, another record for the dataset. Adoption rates vary by channel, with Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) leading at 42%, followed by wirehouse representatives at 35%.
Access continues to improve, as the share of advisors who said they can buy crypto in client accounts rose to 42% from 35% in 2024. Despite this, a cautious approach to sizing persists: 83% of client portfolios with crypto exposure hold less than 5% in digital assets, though the portion holding more than 2% rose to 64% from 51% in 2024.
Looking ahead, the commitment is striking. 99% of advisors who allocated to crypto in 2025 plan to either maintain or increase their exposure in 2026. Among those not currently allocating, 18% said they "definitely" or "probably" plan to add exposure, with another 38% considering it. Product preference is tilting toward familiar investment vehicles, with crypto equity ETFs remaining the top choice for future allocations, followed by spot crypto ETFs and diversified crypto index funds.
Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, expressed surprise at the resilience, stating, "Here’s one statistic that shocked me: 99% of advisors that owned crypto in 2025 plan to increase or maintain their exposure. People have wondered what advisors would do if crypto hit a patch of volatility. We have our answer: They’re planning to buy more." The report also notes that volatility and regulatory concerns remain the top frictions holding back further adoption.
