CoinShares’ survey finds wealthy investors in seven nations are putting more money into crypto even as the market has dipped. The February 2026 crypto sell-off failed to dampen interest. A larger share of those polled said the decline made them more inclined to put money into digital assets than less inclined.
Survey Results Across Seven Countries
Across seven countries, a survey of wealthy investors found Bitcoin (BTC) remained the top holding. On average, it was owned by 80% of digital asset investors, although 89% of those BTC owners also kept other digital assets in their portfolios. A portion of respondents, some 77%, expect BTC to hold a significant place in the future global financial system, while support for increased regulation of digital asset markets grew to 79%.
In every one of the seven nations studied, younger investors devoted a larger share of their portfolio to cryptocurrency than older ones did. Across four of those countries, the younger group committed roughly double the amount of their funds to crypto assets compared to the older generation.
The main motives cited for investment were long-term growth and diversifying holdings. Short-term speculation came in last. Only 6% of those surveyed said they were mainly short-term traders.
The Disconnect Between Investors and Advisers
A divide emerged between investors and the advisers they hire. About four in 10 of those surveyed across Switzerland, France, the US and Germany reported that advisers were overly cautious when it came to digital assets.
Cointelegraph reported that Ric Edelman, founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals and Edelman Financial Engines, described advisers as slow adopters. He explained that advisers are occupied managing profitable practices with satisfied clients, and he added that most receive little encouragement from their firms.
Certain firms forbid advisers from talking about crypto or giving crypto-related investments. As a result, advisers cannot determine which clients hold crypto, which prevents them from assisting with tax, estate planning and philanthropic matters concerning those assets.
Edelman took issue with the survey’s claim that crypto holdings average around 10%, pointing instead to his own findings, which suggest that allocations of 2% to 5% are far more widespread.
What Edelman Recommends
Edelman suggests investment allocations spanning 10% to 40%, contingent upon an individual’s risk appetite, even while expressing reservations about the underlying survey figure. His breakdown places 10% for cautious portfolios, 25% for those falling between the two extremes, and 40% for those willing to take on more risk.
“As the asset class matures, 10% allocations or higher will become the norm,” Edelman said. “The sooner people do that, the better off they will be.”
How Crypto Stacks Up Against Retirement Savings
The National Institute on Retirement Security’s August survey discovered that a majority of Americans regard cryptocurrency as a dangerous addition to workplace retirement plans. Specifically, 77% of respondents viewed digital currency investments as risky, with 46% of them seeing such plans as very risky.
| Survey | Result |
|---|---|
| CoinShares (across seven countries) | 10% average allocation, 80% own BTC |
| Edelman’s own research | 2% to 5% average allocation |
| National Institute on Retirement Security | 77% see crypto in retirement plans as risky |
The Bigger Picture
The findings indicate that wealthy investors regard crypto as something to be held for the long haul rather than traded for quick gains. Their motive is appreciation and portfolio diversification, not speculation. Even after the sell-off, they have not changed their course.
The wider issue is the gap between what investors want and what advisers are allowed to provide. People seeking guidance on crypto find advisers who avoid the subject, and firms frequently ban advisers from even mentioning it. Edelman points to missed opportunities for advisers to assist with tax, estate planning and philanthropy tied to crypto assets.
The figure comes from Edelman’s own numbers suggest the actual allocations are far lower than the survey’, and it concerns 10%. Yet he still advises a minimum of 10% or more. That contradiction is the humor: those who know crypto best believe the survey exaggerates how much wealthy people hold, even as the survey itself reveals that wealthy people are prepared to venture further than most advisers feel comfortable advising.
The numbers show how differently two groups of people view digital money kept aside for later life. Wealthy investors are putting more of their own savings into crypto, yet most working Americans do not want any part of it touching their workplace savings, calling it too risky.
The quick summary: wealthy individuals want crypto, financial advisers are lagging behind, and the market has endured a sell-off while maintaining its forward drive.
Source material: “Affluent investors seen boosting crypto exposure: Survey,” Cointelegraph.
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