Polls reveal that five-fifths of high-net and sub-HNW individuals are likely to work with financial advisors providing crypto-related guidance, but are wary of the red flag of experience.
A new investor survey from digital asset manager Coinshare suggests that while most wealthy investors want crypto-related guidance from advisors, many are not convinced by the advisor’s expertise or risk literacy in that space.
The study, released in June, saw 500 US-based investors look at at least $500,000 worth of investmentable assets.
It is based on previous votes by Coinshare. This found an advisor who valued difficult decisions when it came to diving into cryptography.
82% of respondents said they tend to work with financial advisors who provide crypto investment support. However, almost a third of them have flagged themselves on reliability concerns. Specifically, did the advisor have personal experience with digital assets or did they provide adequate risk disclosure?
“The adoption of digital assets is rapidly progressing among self-educated and actively involved investors, but that doesn’t mean they want to go alone,” CoinShares CEO Jean Marie Mognitti said in a statement revealing the latest findings. “They are looking for advisors who can act as strategic partners rather than product pushers.”
The survey also found that 89% of current digital asset owners are planning to increase exposure this year. Over half said they were involved in the market every day. This signal that Crypto is becoming a regular feature of a broader wealth strategy. While 88% of Crypto investors are already working with advisors, 78% of non-cryptic investors said they would consider doing so if the advisor provided reliable support in this area.
Coinshares, a European company that has stepped up US efforts over the past year, positions itself to meet this growing demand. In October 2024, the company opened its US headquarters in New York City. This move coincides with the acquisition of Valkyrie Funds and onboarding of the Coinshares Valkyrie Bitcoin Fund (Ticker BRRR) and the Coinshares Valkyrie Miners ETF (The Coinshares Valkyrie Bitcoin Fund).
These additions have expanded Coinshares’ US product footprint, moving from $5.5 billion to $6.5 billion with global assets under management. Coinshares became BRRR’s sole sponsor in June 2024 after Valkyrie Digital Assets withdrew from the arrangement, according to SEC filings.
“There are important opportunities for advisors who invest in the confidence to distinguish themselves in a competitive market,” says Mognetti. “As the digital assets situation matures, the relationship between advisor clients is defined by credibility. Investors don’t just ask, ‘What to buy?’ They ask, “Do you understand this space the same way as me?” ”
Coinshares has built its infrastructure to support engagement and has begun an aggressive hiring push across compliance, sales, operations and marketing. This includes the debut of Coinshares Hedge Fund Solutions, the hedge fund division, in September 2023. The platform is provided through Coinshares Capital, a FINRA registered broker dealer.
To strengthen the US institutional presence, Coinshare brought Calvin’s Tintle as a senior manager in national accounts and distribution in January. Tintle’s appointment with 20 years of experience in institutional asset sales, including his tenure at Proshares, was described by Frank Spiteri, head of asset management at Coinshares as key to expanding the distribution of improved products and crypto-adjacent solutions in the US.
Our US operations are currently supported by regulatory registrations with both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Coinshares’ leadership publicly supports the United States as its primary jurisdiction for integrating digital assets into traditional finance, and its regulatory clarity blends much of Europe with institutional practices and crypto innovation despite historically persistent uncertainty.
The regulatory environment has become much more kind to crypto companies this year, counting the introduction of the Cryptody Task Force at the SEC in January and the recent constructive statements from the agency’s new chairman, Paul Atkins, to make the United States the “crypto capital of the globe.”
Investors surveyed by Coinshares reiterated their structure and interest in surveillance. Regulated vehicles such as ETFs and trusts were the most preferred digital asset access points, with more vehicles using centralized exchange than those used by 28% of respondents. Risk management, product access, and education were cited as the most valuable services that advisors can offer in the crypto space.
The report also found that sub-highnet investors are more likely to say they plan to grow crypto holdings than wealthy peers despite increasing barriers to access and education. For many in this group, Crypto represents not only diversification, but also a potential lever for upward financial mobility.
