A latest report by Bitwise and VettaFi reveals that 56% of economic advisors usually tend to spend money on crypto this 12 months, with the 2024 US election outcomes pivoting sentiment.
The 2024 surge in crypto costs and elevated regulatory readability have sparked better curiosity from shoppers and advisors alike. In 2024, 96% of advisors fielded consumer inquiries about crypto, the best degree recorded, up from 88% in 2023.
Moreover, the proportion of advisors allocating crypto in consumer portfolios doubled year-over-year, rising to 22% in 2024, in comparison with 11% in 2023. Institutional buyers (30%) and Registered Funding Advisors (RIAs) (28%) had been the most probably to allocate crypto, adopted by wirehouse representatives (24%).
Advisors’ shoppers are additionally more and more taking unbiased positions in crypto, with 71% investing in crypto independently of their advisors in 2024, up from 59% in 2023. These “held-away” belongings symbolize a rising alternative for advisors trying to combine crypto into broader wealth plans.
The report surveyed 430 eligible responses from monetary advisors.
The report paints an image of an business gaining momentum. Advisors who’ve but to allocate crypto are more and more inclined to take action, with 19% planning to spend money on 2025, up from 8% final 12 months.
In the meantime, 99% of advisors already investing in crypto plan to keep up or enhance their publicity.
Political momentum
The 2024 US elections marked a big turning level for crypto. President-elect Donald Trump’s embrace of digital belongings, together with a strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve proposal, has fueled optimism.
Moreover, pro-crypto candidates secured key victories in Congress, tilting the political panorama in favor of the business.
The report additionally highlighted mounting hypothesis over Senator Cynthia Lummis’ (R-WY) proposal for the US to buy 1 million Bitcoins over 5 years, with 45% of advisors believing it can occur.
The report means that the US’s potential entry into the Bitcoin reserves race may set off a world pattern, with nations like Brazil and Poland already contemplating related laws.
Remaining boundaries
Regardless of rising enthusiasm, challenges stay. Volatility (47%) and regulatory uncertainty (50%) stay the highest boundaries to advisor adoption. Nevertheless, regulatory issues have decreased in comparison with prior years, reflecting a extra favorable outlook beneath the incoming administration.
65% of advisors nonetheless can not or are not sure whether or not they can allocate crypto in consumer accounts, remaining a big hurdle.
Encouragingly, advisors are more and more assured of their means to worth crypto belongings, with solely 31% citing valuation issues in 2024, down from 42% in 2023. Custody issues are additionally easing, with worry of hacks dropping from 38% in 2022 to 24% in 2024.
Shifting methods
The report additionally highlighted altering preferences amongst advisors for crypto funding automobiles. Crypto fairness ETFs (25%) stay the most well-liked alternative, as they provide a well-known entry level for advisors hesitant about direct crypto publicity.
Curiosity in spot crypto ETFs (22%) and diversified crypto index funds (19%) has surged, reflecting a rising attraction of professionally managed choices.
The report famous that advisors are exploring extra subtle methods, with thematic methods (26%) and buffered methods (24%) commanding important consideration. These approaches purpose to mitigate crypto’s volatility and ship differentiated returns.
It added that 67% consider Bitcoin’s value will rise over the subsequent 12 months, up from 52% in 2023. By 2030, 40% count on Bitcoin to commerce between $250,000 and $1 million, with 10% projecting it may surpass $1 million.
The report additionally famous a rising conviction in Bitcoin’s long-term potential as a mainstream asset. A considerable 83% of respondents consider Bitcoin could have a better market cap than Ethereum (ETH) inside 5 years.
