Young Affluent Investors Shift Away from Advisers Lacking Crypto Access, Survey Reveals

A new survey shows that an increasing proportion of young, wealthy Americans are moving away from financial advisers who do not offer cryptocurrency options. This trend underscores a significant generational gap in wealth management strategies.

Key Takeaways:

35% of young wealthy U.S. investors have already shifted their funds from advisers lacking crypto exposure.
Increased institutional adoption from firms like BlackRock and Fidelity has bolstered investor confidence.
92% of those surveyed desire access to a more diverse array of digital assets beyond just Bitcoin and Ethereum.

A study conducted by crypto payments company Zerohash revealed insights from 500 U.S. investors aged 18 to 40 who have annual incomes ranging from $100,000 to $1 million.

The results indicated that 35% of these investors have removed assets from advisers who do not include cryptocurrency in their offerings, with more than half of those transfers representing amounts between $250,000 and $1 million.

Young Affluent Investors Shift Away from Advisers Lacking Crypto Access, Survey Reveals

Institutional Acceptance Elevates Confidence in Crypto

This trend illustrates how rapidly cryptocurrency has progressed from a niche interest to a mainstream investment avenue for younger generations.

Zerohash reported that over 80% of participants felt increased confidence in digital assets, primarily due to the recent adoption of cryptocurrencies by major financial institutions like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Morgan Stanley over the past year.

Among those earning $500,000 or more, 50% reported they had already switched advisers due to a lack of crypto offerings, highlighting impatience among high-earners.

Looking ahead, demand for cryptocurrency remains strong, with 84% of investors planning to expand their holdings within the next year. Nearly half of these respondents indicated that they intend to "significantly increase their allocations."

According to Zerohash, the findings indicate that cryptocurrency has become a crucial component of contemporary portfolio strategies. The firm cautioned that wealth advisers who do not adapt may risk losing clients to platforms that provide broader access to digital assets.

“Advisers who evolve early can enhance client loyalty and attract new growth opportunities, while those who hesitate could fall behind,” Zerohash stated.

Investors clearly articulated their expectations, seeking to have cryptocurrencies integrated within their existing portfolios along with insured custody and compliant access.

The interest in cryptocurrency extends beyond just Bitcoin and Ethereum; 92% of respondents highlighted the importance of being able to access a wider variety of digital assets. This desire aligns with the expanding range of exchange-traded products focused on altcoins like Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin.

Rise of Staking Products

Asset management firms are increasingly introducing more sophisticated offerings, including staking products that allow users to earn yields by locking up their tokens.

BlackRock appears poised to enter this segment, having recently filed for a staked Ether ETF in Delaware.

In addition, 21Shares has launched the 21Shares Solana ETF (TSOL) on the CBOE, providing U.S. investors direct exposure to the spot price of SOL without the need to hold the token themselves.

This fund debuted with $100 million in assets under management, contributing to a rising trend of Solana-focused products in the U.S. market.

TSOL follows 21Shares’ earlier U.S. introductions, such as the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, which now boasts over $8 billion in AUM, and its spot Ethereum ETF.

The firm also operates the world’s largest Solana ETP in Europe, managing over $1 billion in assets.

With Fidelity, Bitwise, VanEck, and Grayscale also advancing into the spot Solana market, this sector has garnered over $420 million in inflows, reflecting a growing demand for institutional-grade SOL exposure.