Affluent investors boost crypto holdings despite market downturns

A new survey by CoinShares reveals that affluent investors across seven major economies are increasingly embracing digital assets. The survey, which included 2,230 investors with at least $500,000 in investable assets, found that crypto holdings average around 10% of their portfolios. Digital asset ownership varied by country, ranging from 54% in Sweden to about 70% in the US, UK, Germany, and Switzerland. Notably, at least 85% of current investors in five of the seven countries plan to boost their crypto exposure by 2026, with the US, UK, and Germany leading at 91%.

The February 2026 crypto market downturn did not deter investors. In fact, more respondents across all seven countries said the sell-off made them more likely to invest in digital assets. Long-term appreciation and diversification were the top reasons for investing, while speculation ranked last. Bitcoin (BTC) remained the most widely held digital asset, owned by 80% of investors on average, though 89% of BTC holders also invested in other digital assets. Additionally, 77% of respondents believed BTC would play a significant role in the future global financial system, and 79% supported increased regulation of digital asset markets.

Younger investors showed particularly high crypto exposure, allocating more to digital assets than older investors in all seven countries and roughly twice as much in four of them. The survey also highlighted a disconnect between affluent investors and their financial advisers. Roughly four in 10 respondents in Switzerland, France, the US, and Germany who worked with an adviser said their advisers were overly cautious about digital assets. Ric Edelman, founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals, noted that financial advisers are slow adopters of digital assets, often lacking the knowledge or incentive to learn about the asset class.

Edelman challenged CoinShares’ finding that crypto allocations average around 10%, suggesting his own research indicates allocations of 2% to 5% are more common. Despite this, he recommends allocations ranging from 10% to 40%, depending on risk tolerance. Edelman’s recommended allocations contrast with broader skepticism about using crypto for retirement savings, as an August survey from the National Institute on Retirement Security found that 77% of Americans consider cryptocurrency in workplace retirement plans risky.