Affluent U.S. Investors Embrace Crypto as Advisers Stay Cautious

Recent transactions also show large financial firms increasing their involvement in crypto businesses, while institutional capital is moving deeper into crypto infrastructure and Strategy continues buying Bitcoin.

CoinShares surveyed 2,230 investors with at least $500,000 in investable assets across the United States and six European markets from May 11 to June 5, 2026. The U.S. sample included 502 respondents.

Digital-asset ownership reached 70% among U.S. participants. Among current U.S. crypto investors, 91% said they were likely to increase their exposure in 2026. Across all seven markets, crypto allocations averaged around 10% of portfolios, although the survey did not provide a separate U.S. average.

The survey found that 88% of respondents did not feel they had enough knowledge to invest in digital assets with full confidence. About 69% would consider working with a wealth manager with crypto expertise, and 98% of current investors open to advisory services said they would pay for them.

Roughly four in 10 respondents in the United States, France, Germany and Switzerland who worked with advisers described those advisers as overly cautious about digital assets. The findings separate crypto ownership from incorporating digital assets into broader financial planning, a distinction also highlighted in earlier coverage of affluent investors’ crypto use.

Institutional capital is also moving deeper into crypto infrastructure. OKX announced strategic investment from Circle, Qube Research & Technologies, Ripple and SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s investment arm, at a $25 billion pre-money valuation. The amount raised in the latest investment was not disclosed.

The transaction extends a funding round led by Intercontinental Exchange, which invested in OKX in March 2026. OKX founder and CEO Star Xu said the company aims to build a financial technology platform combining crypto infrastructure with the standards of global financial institutions.

Strategy directed capital to both preferred-stock buybacks and Bitcoin during its latest reporting period. From Sept. 28 through Oct. 4, the company repurchased 1,773,802 STRC shares for $176.3 million. It also bought 334 BTC for $28.7 million from Oct. 1 through Oct. 4.

As of 4 p.m. ET (8 p.m. UTC) Oct. 4, Strategy held 848,000 BTC acquired for an aggregate $63.97 billion.

Strategy shareholders were scheduled to vote Oct. 28 on proposed daily dividends for STRC, STRF, STRK and STRD. The changes remained subject to shareholder approval, amended certificates of designation and board declarations.