Crypto may be edging closer to the mainstream of US wealth management, but it is doing so cautiously and unevenly, according to a new benchmark survey of financial advisors.
Wall Street Advisors Lift Crypto Allocations, But Old Doubts Refuse to Die
15 January 2026 - 13:30 CET
By Sandmark staff
The Bitwise/VettaFi 2026 Benchmark Survey, based on responses from 299 US-based financial advisors, found that 32% of financial advisors allocated crypto to client portfolios in 2025, the highest level since the survey began eight years ago and up from 22% in the previous year.
Taken together, the findings point to a market in transition. Crypto is no longer a fringe concept within advisory circles.
Adoption is rising, access is widening, and allocations are growing, yet the pace remains constrained by the same forces that have shaped crypto’s journey so far: price swings, regulatory uncertainty and institutional risk controls.
Sticking with crypto
Advisors who already crossed that line appear committed: 99% said they plan to maintain or increase exposure in 2026, suggesting crypto, once introduced, tends to stick.
Yet the data also reveals how tightly advisors continue to control risk. Among portfolios with crypto exposure, 83% held less than 5% in digital assets, reinforcing crypto’s role as a satellite allocation rather than a core holding.
Even so, allocation sizes are creeping higher, with 64% of crypto-exposed portfolios now allocating more than 2%, compared with 51% in 2024.
One of the clearest signals of institutionalization lies in access. The number of advisors who said they can now buy crypto in client accounts now stands at 42%, more than double the level recorded two years ago.
However, a majority, 58%, still said they either cannot allocate or are unsure whether they are allowed to, underlining the continued influence of internal compliance teams and platform restrictions.
Wrappers over wallets
Product preference also highlights how crypto is being "financialized." Advisors overwhelmingly favour wrappers they already understand: 77% said exchange-traded funds are their preferred way to gain exposure, far outpacing direct ownership of tokens.
When asked about future products, index-style crypto funds topped the list, reflecting a desire to diversify rather than bet on individual coins.
The survey suggests enthusiasm is being channelled into specific themes. Stablecoins and tokenization drew the most interest, followed by "digital gold" narratives and crypto-linked AI plays. Advisors were also broadly optimistic about prices, with 65% expecting Bitcoin to be higher in a year, alongside bullish views on Ether and Solana.
Still, familiar roadblocks remain firmly in place. Volatility was cited by 57% of advisors as a barrier, while 53% pointed to regulatory concerns, a reminder that greater clarity has not eliminated anxiety.
Nearly half also blamed internal "home office" restrictions, an issue that reflects firm-level caution rather than individual conviction.
