$100 Trillion Inheritance Wave Could Propel Crypto Prices, CEO Suggests

A significant transfer of generational wealth is poised to change the crypto landscape in the next twenty years, as younger investors inherit trillions in assets and increasingly invest in digital currencies.

Key Takeaways

A $100 trillion generational wealth transfer is set to shift crypto market dynamics significantly over the next 20 years.
Younger investors are more inclined towards crypto and alternative asset classes compared to older generations.
Institutional products in the crypto space are expanding as the industry matures with improved infrastructure.
Despite wealth transfer optimism, Bitcoin faces challenges with a noticeable decline in millionaire addresses.

With these insights, it is clear that the evolving landscape of wealth dynamics is a key driver for the future of cryptocurrencies.

Nansen’s founder, Alex Svanevik, forecasts that this upcoming shift will significantly impact the crypto market dynamics. Recent findings indicate that younger generations are already dedicating much greater portions of their investment portfolios to digital assets compared to older generations.

This transfer will involve around $100 trillion moving globally over the next two decades, with younger heirs displaying distinct investment tendencies compared to existing asset owners.

“It’s like a tidal wave, you know, a tsunami that’s coming,” Svanevik explained to Magazine, suggesting that even slight changes in asset allocation could potentially double crypto’s current market capitalization of $3.05 trillion. “There are many factors that drive crypto upwards.”

Younger Investors Favor Different Asset Classes

According to a recent Coinbase study, 45% of younger investors in the U.S. currently own cryptocurrencies, in contrast to only 18% of older adults. Moreover, younger investors assign 25% of their portfolios to non-traditional assets, which is three times more than the 8% seen with older investors.

Additionally, about 80% of young adults believe crypto will play a significant role in future financial systems.

This trend is not limited to the U.S. In the Asia Pacific region, nearly half of high-net-worth individuals allocate over 10% of their portfolios to digital assets, with 87% already invested in crypto and 60% planning to increase their allocations.

A recent Bitget Research study revealed that 20% of Gen Z and Alpha participants are open to receiving retirement funds in cryptocurrencies, and 78% are more confident in alternative savings methods over traditional pensions.

Zac Prince from Galaxy Digital echoed Svanevik's sentiments earlier this month, highlighting that younger investors prefer “an app first” approach to financial platforms rather than conventional brokerage relationships.

“Older generations will pass on their wealth to younger people,” Prince stated.

He elaborated that younger investors find platforms like GalaxyOne—characterized by intuitive interfaces and multiple products within one app—much more familiar and user-friendly compared to traditional brokerage methods requiring phone calls.

Data from UBS estimates that $83 trillion will change hands between generations in the next 20-25 years, with $29 trillion in the U.S. alone.

Prince noted that the patterns of wealth transfer do not solely correlate with population size or GDP. For instance, despite Italy's smaller population and lower GDP compared to Japan, it is expected to see more significant intergenerational wealth transfers due to higher savings rates and homeownership among its elderly citizens.

Crypto Infrastructure Maturation Enables Advanced Product Development

The cryptocurrency industry has achieved a crucial level of infrastructure maturity, which allows for the creation of sophisticated, institutional-grade products that were not feasible before.

“The product we have built could not have been constructed two or three years ago due to inadequate infrastructure,” Svanevik mentioned, pointing out advancements in wallet technology and execution capabilities. “Wallet technology has improved substantially.”

As the infrastructure improves, more institutions are adopting cryptocurrency.

Morgan Stanley has launched Bitcoin ETFs, and traditional financial platforms are broadening access to crypto, despite a cautious retail sentiment.

Recent data from the FINRA Foundation revealed that the percentage of U.S. investors considering crypto declined from 33% to 26% between 2021 and 2024, with 66% now viewing digital assets as extremely or very risky, up from 58%.

Despite this, institutional products are still proliferating.

Prince commented that distribution channels remain somewhat restricted but anticipates ongoing growth through 2025.

“ETFs were introduced last year. Some warehouses and firms have a one-year lockout period for new ETFs to be available to clients.”

In the Gulf region, wealth transfer patterns are already becoming observable. The Kanoo family in Bahrain initially supported Bitcoin in 2020 despite doubts, later selling it at a profit before committing further investment into digital assets through hedge funds.

Banks like Citigroup, Barclays, and Deutsche Bank are expanding their wealth divisions in the Gulf to capture an estimated $1 trillion in regional wealth transfers.

Svanevik believes the passage of the CLARITY Act will herald “a new era for crypto in the U.S.,” generating global repercussions. “The rest of the world will follow suit.”

Bitcoin Faces Challenges Despite Positive Wealth Transfer Outlook

Despite promising long-term adoption trends, Bitcoin has experienced a decline, losing approximately 25,000 millionaire addresses since Donald Trump returned to the White House. The count fell from 157,563 addresses at his January 2025 inauguration to 132,383 by January 20, 2026.

Bitcoin Price Chart

Today, Bitcoin dipped below $90,000 amid broader market volatility, even as institutional products continue expanding and younger generations prepare to inherit trillions in assets over the upcoming decades.