Digital assets have become a mainstream allocation for affluent investors, according to a new report from asset manager CoinShares. Produced alongside Vardaxoglou Advisory, the 2026 Affluent Investor Crypto Report surveyed 2,230 individuals holding $500,000 or more in investable assets across the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland between 11 May and 5 June.

Roughly 70% of respondents in the US, UK, Germany and Switzerland own digital assets, and average allocations cluster near 10% of portfolios — a weighting comparable to private equity.

The findings challenge the perception of crypto as a purely speculative pursuit. Only 6% of investors say they hold digital assets primarily for volatility or short-term plays, and the self-described "Trader" profile peaks at 11% in the UK. Strategic motives such as long-term appreciation and diversification were cited most often, by 41% of respondents on average.

Bitcoin, the largest digital asset by market value, anchors most portfolios. It is held by about 80% of crypto investors, though 89% of those who own it also hold other digital assets.

Conviction appears to have endured the sharp market downturn of February 2026. Conducted in the weeks after that sell-off, the survey captures sentiment in its immediate aftermath rather than in calmer conditions. In every market surveyed, more respondents said the sell-off made them more likely to invest than less likely, and at least 85% of current investors in five markets plan to raise their exposure this year. Some 77% believe Bitcoin will play a significant role in the future financial system.

How are digital assets fitting into private wealth in 2026? Our latest survey looks beyond adoption to investor conviction, strategy and the forces shaping allocation decisions across seven markets. Explore the full findings: pic.twitter.com/nb2yDu7ygr — CoinShares (@CoinSharesCo) October 8, 2026

Macro Forces, Regulation and the Role of Advisers

Investment decisions are increasingly framed through a macroeconomic lens. Factors such as interest rates and inflation rank as the leading trigger in nearly every market, ahead of technical analysis. Geopolitics also plays a role: 57% of investors say tensions between the US and Europe make them more likely to invest, with Germany and France showing the strongest reaction.

Regulation is viewed as a catalyst rather than a threat. About 79% of respondents support tighter rules for the sector. US policy under the current administration lifted investment intent by 68% to 79% across markets, compared with 49% to 65% for the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. President Donald Trump's personal endorsement also raised intent, even in European countries where he is unpopular, though it proved less influential than the administration's institutional stance.

The report points to a sizeable opportunity for wealth managers. Advisers are the most trusted source of crypto information in every market, yet 88% of investors admit they lack the knowledge to invest with full confidence. Some 69% would consider working with an adviser who has crypto expertise, and 98% of interested investors are willing to pay for such services. Investors favor managers with a personal track record in digital assets over those with formal credentials, and 55% prefer regulated, intermediated access — such as brokerage platforms and exchange-traded products (ETPs) — to direct exchange use.

A generational split may reinforce these trends. Investors under 45 allocate roughly twice as much to crypto as older peers in several markets, a significant factor as an estimated $84 trillion in wealth passes to younger heirs over the next two decades. Whether stated intentions to raise exposure turn into actual allocations — and how quickly the wealth industry moves to close the knowledge gap — will be worth watching through the rest of 2026.

Source: Metaverse Post — Wealthy Investors Treat Crypto As A Strategic Holding, CoinShares Survey Finds