Affluent Investors Plan to Boost Crypto Exposure Despite Market Downturn

A new survey by CoinShares reveals that a majority of affluent investors across seven major economies now hold digital assets, with crypto making up roughly 10% of their portfolios on average. The survey included 2,230 investors with at least $500,000 in investable assets from the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland. Digital asset ownership varied, peaking at about 70% in the US, UK, Germany, and Switzerland, while Sweden had the lowest at 54%.

Despite a market downturn in February 2026, investor enthusiasm for crypto remained strong. At least 85% of current digital asset investors in five of the seven countries planned to increase their exposure by 2026, with the highest percentages in the US, UK, and Germany at 91%. The survey also highlighted that long-term appreciation and diversification were the primary motivations for investing, while short-term speculation ranked lowest.

Bitcoin (BTC) was the most widely held digital asset, owned by 80% of investors on average. However, 89% of BTC investors also held other digital assets. The survey further indicated that 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 allocated more to digital assets than older investors across all seven countries.

The survey also uncovered a disconnect between affluent investors and their financial advisers. About 40% of respondents in Switzerland, France, the US, and Germany who worked with an adviser said they found them overly cautious about digital assets. Ric Edelman, founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals, noted that many advisers lack the knowledge or incentive to learn about crypto, with some firms even prohibiting discussions about it.

Edelman challenged CoinShares’ finding that crypto allocations average around 10%, suggesting his own research indicates allocations of 2% to 5% are more common. He recommended allocations ranging from 10% to 40%, depending on risk tolerance. Despite broader skepticism about using crypto for retirement savings, Edelman believes that as the asset class matures, higher allocations will become the norm.