Two out of three wealth managers still have zero crypto in their client portfolios. That’s the headline number from a Bitwise Asset Management audience poll conducted in September 2026, and it tells a story of an industry that talks a big game about digital assets but hasn’t quite followed through yet.
The poll, presented by Bitwise Head of Research Ryan Rasmussen at a company event, surveyed roughly 400 wealth managers. The finding that 67% had not allocated any cryptocurrency exposure for their clients might sound bearish at first glance. But the second number is the one worth paying attention to: 60% of those same respondents said they plan to add a crypto allocation within the next 12 months.
The gap between intention and action
According to the 2026 Bitwise/VettaFi Benchmark Survey, 32% of financial advisors had allocated to crypto for clients in 2025. That was up from 22% in 2024, representing a roughly 45% year-over-year jump in adoption. On the access side, 42% of advisors said they could buy crypto for clients in 2025, compared to 35% the year before.
It’s worth noting this was an informal audience poll at a Bitwise event, not a randomized, statistically rigorous survey of the entire wealth management industry. The people who show up to a crypto asset manager’s presentation are probably more crypto-curious than the average advisor managing retirement accounts in suburban Ohio. Self-selection bias is doing some work here.
What wealth managers actually want to talk about
XRP drew the most inquiries from attendees. For an asset that spent years mired in SEC litigation, that level of interest from professional money managers signals just how dramatically the regulatory landscape has shifted. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana also featured prominently in discussions, alongside broader themes like tokenization and stablecoins.
Meanwhile, 60% of poll respondents said they expected crypto prices to be higher by the end of 2026.
What stands between intention and inflow
The jump from 35% to 42% of advisors having the capability to buy crypto for clients shows those guardrails are loosening, but they haven’t disappeared.
The 67% figure also highlights an interesting competitive dynamic. The wealth managers who have already allocated are building track records and client relationships around crypto exposure. Those who haven’t may find themselves increasingly needing to explain why, especially if prices continue rising as the majority of respondents expect.