Wealthy investors favor long-term digital asset strategies
Wealthy investors with at least $500,000 in assets prioritize long-term strategies over speculation when allocating funds to digital assets, according to a survey by CoinShares. The finding contradicts common assumptions about this investor class, where speculation is often seen as the dominant driver.
The survey, conducted between May 11 and June 5, 2026 across the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland, polled 2,230 participants evenly split between those with $500,000–$999,999 and those with $1 million+.
Among them, speculation accounted for just 9% of primary motivations, never exceeding 11% in any market. Instead, 40% cited strategic motives, long-term appreciation, or diversification as their main reasons, while 13% used them for hedging.
Wealth managers, however, see speculation differently. In a separate survey by Citywire, 52% of 261 European advisers identified speculation as a key barrier to client adoption. The discrepancy highlights a gap between how investors describe their own behavior and how advisers perceive it.
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More than half of affluent investors in every surveyed market now hold digital assets, with ownership rates ranging from 53% in Sweden to around 70% in the US, UK, Germany, and Switzerland. They allocate an average of 12–15% of their portfolios to the asset class, despite regulatory differences across regions.
Bitcoin remains the anchor of these portfolios, with 80% of holders owning it—including 87% in the US. Yet only a single-digit share hold bitcoin exclusively. Ethereum and stablecoins follow, with 59% and 57% ownership, respectively.
Investors also signal a clear demand for professional guidance. 88% say they lack the knowledge to invest in digital assets with confidence, and 95% consider adviser expertise essential.
Among those open to advisory services, 98% would pay for it. Advisors rank as the most trusted source of information on digital assets, surpassing peer forums and online communities.
