Young rich people are putting crypto investments at the center of their portfolios

Source: BTCHaber
Original Title: Young Rich Shift Their Focus to Crypto
Original Link:

A new study conducted with 500 investors aged 18-40 in the US revealed that crypto assets are no longer merely “alternative” for high-income young investors, but have become a fundamental portfolio component.

The study, carried out in the third quarter of 2025 in collaboration between blockchain company ZeroHash and research firm Centiment, showed that 61% of participants hold cryptocurrencies and that demand for this asset class is set to increase even further in the next 12 months.

Scope of the Study

The study was conducted via an online survey with 500 US-based investors. The participants were between the ages of 18 and 40, with household incomes ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million. The research focused specifically on the “high-income young investors” segment, revealing that 75% of participants already work with a financial advisor or private wealth manager. The “High Net Worth” (HNW) investor subgroup was defined as those with annual incomes between $500,000 and $1 million.

Crypto’s Place in Portfolios Is Solidifying

The results show that crypto assets are competing in the same league as traditional classes like real estate and stocks among young and wealthy US investors. Of those holding crypto, 71% said they allocate 5% to 20% of their portfolios to digital assets. Among the young high-net-worth participants, 44% reported holding crypto. This rate is on par with real estate investors and significantly higher than private equity/hedge funds, as well as art and collectibles.

Another notable finding from the report is that even investors who do not currently hold crypto show strong demand. The vast majority of participants without a financial advisor indicated that they would open an account or seriously consider doing so if crypto services were offered.

The Heavy Cost of Advisors’ Lack of Crypto Knowledge

One of the study’s most striking findings is that 76% of investors manage their crypto assets independently, without financial advisors. Only 24% hold crypto through their advisors. However, the report indicates that this “advisor access gap” has serious consequences: 35% of participants have already moved their money elsewhere because their advisors did not offer crypto. This rate rises to 51% among high-net-worth investors.

The scale of asset outflows is daunting: 34% of investors who have moved their money shifted between $250,000 and $500,000, while 21.8% moved between $500,000 and $1 million. Meanwhile, 64% of participants said they would have stayed longer or moved more assets if their advisors offered crypto.

On the other hand, the report notes that the entry of large institutional players into the crypto space has increased investor confidence.

Bitcoin Isn’t Enough: The Search for More Diversified Portfolios

The report shows that investors are not satisfied with a menu limited to just Bitcoin and Ethereum. 92% of participants said that access to a broader range of digital assets is important. One in five investors already favors alternative assets like Solana, Dogecoin, and USD Coin, but high-net-worth investors are seeking even more diversified portfolios: 49% of HNW investors have Bitcoin-heavy portfolios, compared to 64% in the general sample.

Expectations around security and transparency are also clear: 63% of investors believe crypto should be treated on par with traditional assets, while 50% want insured custody services. Regarding risk management, about 70% of investors express concerns about money laundering and cybersecurity, while independent audits (56%), transparent reporting (54%), and regulated custodians (54%) are listed as the top assurances.

$124 Trillion Wealth Transfer

The research highlights that in the coming decades, the massive $124 trillion in wealth held by previous generations will be passed down to younger investors. According to the report, crypto will be at the center of wealth creation during this transfer.