Bitwise survey: 56% of advisers more likely to invest in crypto after Trump win

A Bitwise survey revealed that 56% of financial advisors based in the U.S. had grown more confident in crypto investments in 2025. 99% of advisors already owning crypto portfolios said they either wanted to maintain or increase their investments. 

22% of advisors reported ‘allocating to crypto in client accounts,’ double the 11% rate recorded in 2023 and the survey’s all-time high (ATH). Of those advisors who had not yet allocated crypto for clients, 19% were ‘probably’ or ‘maybe’ likely to seek more crypto exposure in 2025, more than double the 8% recorded in 2023. Almost 96% of the advisors also said they had answered crypto-related questions from their clients within the past 12 months. 

The latest Bitwise/VettaFi survey report confirmed that the Expense Ratio ranked highest at 58% among the most important features advisors consider when choosing Bitcoin ETF investments. The brand of the issuer (46%) and the issuer’s support (43%) proved more important than AUM (28%). Access to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, however, emerged as a challenge as only 36% of the advisors were able to purchase crypto in client accounts. The sentiment associated with challenges in ETF access was supported by 71% of the advisors who said ‘some’ or ‘all’ of their clients were making ‘side crypto investments’.

Bitwise survey confirms 2024 was a turning point for crypto

The findings are in.

We surveyed 430 financial advisors across the nation to gauge their views on crypto.

Here's what they had to say ⬇️

(Spoiler: They’re more bullish than ever)

— Bitwise (@BitwiseInvest) January 9, 2025

Matt Hougan, Bitwise CIO, said this year’s Bitwise/VettaFi survey would convert all who doubted that 2024 was crucial for crypto’s growth. He added that advisors were awakening to crypto’s potential and allocating ‘like never before’. Interestingly, nearly two-thirds of these advisors, who advised millions of Americans and managed trillions in assets, were still unable to purchase crypto for their clients. 2025 is probably the year that this will change as the ‘mainstream era of crypto’ continues to evolve rapidly, said Hougan.

The 2024 survey, which ran from November 14th to December 20th, provided several key findings after interviews with over 400 respondents (financial advisors). Crypto emerged as a key factor in the 2024 U.S. elections, and allocations doubled year over year to a new high. Client interest also grew stronger than ever, and nearly all of the advisors with allocations were inclined to keep or add to the investments.

More than double the advisors surveyed in 2023 were more likely to make an initial allocation for clients. Advisors prioritized expertise when choosing Bitcoin ETFs for their client’s investments, suggesting the importance advisors placed on industry-specific ‘subject matter expertise’.

“Based on the latest data, the future is very bright as advisors and investors gain more access and education about the potential benefits (of crypto investments).”

~ Todd Rosenbluth, head of research for TMX VettaFi

Advisors demonstrated their regulatory concerns, as 55% of them said clearer regulations would make them more comfortable investing in crypto in the future. Better education (42%), more real-world use cases (34%), better custodial solutions (33%), and less volatility (33%) also emerged as top factors most likely to ease the advisors’ concerns regarding crypto investments.

ETF access remains a major barrier to crypto investments 

As per the Bitwise report, access to ETFs was a key barrier to crypto adoption in 2024. Despite the introduction of BTC and ETH ETFs last year, slightly over a third of advisors reported success in allocating to crypto in client accounts. Many clients tended to make their own crypto investments on the side, outside the advisory relationship. However, the ‘held-away’ assets represented a significant business opportunity for advisors who sought to help their clients integrate crypto into a wider ‘wealth plan’.

When asked what crypto exposure they were most interested in allocating to in 2025, the advisors said crypto equity ETFs (22%) were their favorites. A diversified crypto index fund (19%) was the next most preferred exposure. However, half of the advisors (~50%) believed regulatory uncertainty was the top obstacle to crypto’s future investments. While still significant, regulatory uncertainty had notably dropped compared to previous surveys, which ranged between 60% and 65%. 

Volatility also emerged as a major concern, with 43% of the advisors flagging it as a huge barrier to entry. The percentage had dropped from 60% in 2022 and 53% in 2021 but remained the same as in 2023. Volatility’s persistence as a barrier was reflected in the advisors’ responses, although the bull market that started in 2023 had eased some of the advisors’ concerns.

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