The Top 10 Takeaways for Financial Advisors in the 2026 Crypto Landscape

While the strong demand for cryptocurrency-related ETFs in 2025 was easily evident, what happens next is less obvious. That’s what is compelling about the results of the Bitwise/VettaFi 2026 Benchmark Survey of Financial Advisor Attitudes Toward Crypto Assets. Advisors told us how, and with what type of strategies, they and their clients are increasingly allocating to crypto.

Survey Findings

The eighth annual Bitwise and VettaFi survey of 299 financial advisors reveals a landmark shift in the industry. As crypto moves further into the mainstream, advisors are no longer just watching from the sidelines. They are active participants. According to Bitwise, here are the top 10 takeaways from the 2026 report:

1. Crypto allocations surged to a new high: 32% of advisors reported allocating to crypto in client accounts this past year, up from 22% in 2024.
2. More professional advisors own crypto than ever before: 56% of advisors now own crypto in their personal portfolios.
3. Allocation size within portfolios is growing: 64% of portfolios with crypto exposure have allocations greater than 2%, a significant rise from 51% in 2024.
4. Institutional access is on the rise: 42% of advisors can now buy crypto in client accounts, more than double the access seen in 2023.
5. Stablecoins and tokenization pique interest: These sectors attracted 30% interest, followed by “digital gold” (22%) and AI-linked crypto (19%).
6. Advisors are bullish on prices in 2026: 65% believe Bitcoin will be higher a year from now, with high confidence in Ethereum (62%) and Solana (57%).
7. High retention rates: 99% of advisors who currently have a crypto allocation plan to maintain or increase that exposure in 2026.
8. Preference for index funds: Among potential ETPs, advisors were most interested in index funds (42%) over single-coin options.
9. Sourcing from equities and cash: Most advisors are funding crypto positions by reallocating from equities (43%) or cash (35%).
10. Crypto equity ETFs are the top choice: These remain the favorite vehicle for advisors seeking crypto exposure in 2026.

The Strategic Advantage of ETFs in 2026

For advisors, the growing suite of crypto-related ETFs offers a regulated, familiar structure that simplifies tax reporting and custody. Instead of managing private keys, advisors can use the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) for direct bitcoin exposure or the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (BITW) to provide clients with a diversified basket of the largest digital assets. For those seeking equity-based exposure to the infrastructure of the market, the CoinShares Bitcoin Miners ETF (WGMI) remains a good choice for capturing the growth of crypto miners.

“Crypto’s future has always depended on what financial advisors think of it,” said Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan. “They are trusted guides to millions of families and responsible for stewarding trillions of dollars in wealth. And in 2025, advisors embraced crypto like never before. As crypto moves farther into the mainstream, we’re excited to see surging interest and enthusiasm from a demographic that has always played a central role in crypto’s future.”

Dive Deeper into the Trends

Want to learn more about where the smart money is moving? Register for our webcast on January 20, Beyond Bitcoin: The Crypto Trends Advisors Are Leaning Into Next, to hear industry experts break down these findings.  While bitcoin ended lower in 2025, we think the future for related ETFs is bright.

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