A major survey conducted by Ernst & Young (EY-Parthenon) and Coinbase reveals significant institutional investment intentions for 2026, with a clear preference for diversification beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The survey, which included 351 institutional investors, most managing assets exceeding $1 billion, found that 73% plan to increase their overall cryptocurrency investments in the coming year.
While Bitcoin maintains its dominant position in institutional portfolios, the data shows a growing appetite for altcoins. Solana (SOL) emerges as the leading altcoin choice among institutions. As of January 2026, 36% of surveyed institutions already had allocations to SOL, and 38% plan to add to their SOL holdings this year.
Interest in XRP is also notable but trails Solana. The survey indicates that 18% of institutions were invested in XRP as of January 2026, with 25% planning to invest in the token during the year. This institutional interest follows significant capital inflows into XRP spot ETFs, which currently boast net assets of $949.15 million and total net inflows of $1.21 billion since launch.
Dogecoin (DOGE) lags far behind in institutional adoption, with only 2% of institutions holding it and another 2% planning to add it in 2026. The data shows DOGE ETFs have attracted just $9.12 million in net assets.
The survey highlights a clear institutional preference for gaining crypto exposure through regulated products. As of January 2026, 66% of institutions held spot crypto ETFs, up from 64% a year prior. Conversely, direct holdings of spot crypto decreased from 39% to 36% over the same period, indicating a shift toward ETF wrappers and digital asset treasury companies (DATs), which saw participation rise from 51% to 53%.
This institutional sentiment unfolds against a backdrop of market volatility, with Bitcoin recently falling below $68,000 and Ethereum approaching $2,000. XRP's price has experienced a sharp decline, trading around $1.36, which represents a 60% drop from its all-time high of $3.6.
