TL;DR
- 61% of institutional investors plan to increase their crypto asset allocation next year.
- Portfolio diversification surpasses the “megatrend” as the main investment driver.
- Sentiment turns neutral or bearish for 2026, citing uncertainty and lower liquidity.
Institutional investors are increasing their cryptocurrency allocations for the remainder of the year, but few expect the current rally to last heading into 2026, according to Sygnum Bank’s “Future Finance 2025” report.
The short-term appetite is clear: 38% of respondents are looking to add exposure in the fourth quarter of this year, and a significant 61% plan to increase their digital asset investments during 2025.
The report, which surveyed over 1,000 professional and high-net-worth (HNW) investors across 43 countries, reveals a key shift in motivation. Sygnum analysts noted that diversification has surpassed the “megatrend narrative” as the main reason to invest.
This marks an evolution of institutional crypto investment from a purely speculative trade to being recognized as a structural portfolio component.
“Institutions are thinking less about crypto as defense and more about participation in the structural evolution of global finance,” said Lucas Schweiger, the report’s lead author.
Shift in strategy: Active management, ETFs, and RWAs gain ground
The study highlights a tactical shift. Actively managed strategies now dominate institutional approaches at 42%, closely followed by index exposure at 39%, edging out single-token bets. Sygnum argues this suggests a preference for discretionary mandates that can adjust to market volatility and regulatory changes.
Interest in crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ether has also surged. More than 80% of respondents want broader ETF exposure, and 70% would increase their allocations if staking were enabled. Demand is especially strong for Solana and multi-asset products.
Furthermore, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) are rapidly climbing the priority list, with investor interest jumping from 6% to 26% year-over-year.
Despite this tactical optimism, sentiment cools beyond 2025. Investors indicate caution toward 2026, a year Sygnum tempers with “regulatory uncertainty and slowing liquidity.”
However, long-term conviction remains intact. 91% of high-net-worth respondents view crypto as key for wealth preservation, and 81% consider Bitcoin a viable treasury reserve asset. “Discipline has tempered exuberance, but not conviction,” Schweiger concluded.
