A Zerohash survey commissioned by the research firm Centiment has found that one in three young investors have abandoned advisors who did not include cryptocurrency options. Nearly 26% of them have moved assets worth between $500,000 and $1 million, and 34% have moved assets worth between $250,000 and $500,000 from non-crypto advisors.
The report emphasized that these were not symbolic withdrawals, but they represent meaningful wallet share and revenue erosion.
The report also asserted that cryptocurrency has shifted from optional to expected, and advisors who offer crypto access will be at the center of the next generation of wealth creation. They will expand wallet share, improve retention, and drive new growth.
Affluent young investors are already on-chain. Roughly 61% of them hold crypto, and most have allocated between 5% and 20% of their portfolios to digital assets. The survey revealed that for this group of investors, crypto plays a central role in their long-term wealth-building and diversification strategies.
The survey covered 500 U.S.-based investors aged 18-40 years with household incomes of over $100,000 (ranging from $100,000 to $1 million or more), with 75% of respondents indicating that they currently work with a financial advisor or private wealth manager.
Young investors to increase cryptocurrency holdings within 12 months
The Zerohash survey revealed that 84% of young investors intend to increase their crypto holdings within the next 12 months. About 46% said they will increase their allocations significantly. Approximately 64% would stay with their advisor longer or increase assets held with their advisor if their advisor offered crypto.
The report reveals how affluent younger investors are transforming the foundations of wealth management through cryptocurrency assets and reshaping their expectations of financial advisors. The findings also reveal that cryptocurrency has become a mainstream portfolio component, while most advisors are yet to catch up with the demand from young clients.
Meanwhile, the report confirmed that about 76% of cryptocurrency holders aged 18-40 invest independently, with only 24% holding with their advisors. Of these crypto holders, 43% have allocated 5-10%, 27% hold 11-20%, and 11% hold over 20% of their portfolios in digital assets.
Cryptocurrency becomes a core asset class
The survey found that crypto has firmly established itself alongside equities, real estate, and bonds, a clear sign that crypto has entered the mainstream. It also found that integrated portfolios drive crypto adoption, as most users prefer a unified experience. Nearly 63% said they are more likely to invest in crypto through their advisors if it appears in the same dashboard as their traditional assets.
The report also emphasized that young investors equate credibility with structure. Independent audits, transparent reporting, and regulated custody rank as the most essential safeguards in building confidence around cryptocurrency investing.
Institutional tailwinds are also strengthening this confidence among young investors. The report reveals that approximately 82% view the entry of major fintech giants, such as BlackRock, Robinhood, Morgan Stanley, and Fidelity, as validation of crypto’s staying power and relevance in diversified portfolios.
Meanwhile, young investors also want more than Bitcoin and Ethereum, as uncovered by the report. Roughly one in five young investors already allocate their investments primarily to altcoins, such as Solana (SOL), USD Coin (USDC), and Dogecoin (DOGE).
However, the survey also found that despite growing interest, young investors remain cautious around crypto. Nearly 70% expressed concerns about money laundering and cybersecurity risks. The top reassurances still remain regulated custody (54%), independent audits (56%), and transparent reporting (54%). On the other hand, Centiment observed that compliance-grade infrastructure is also essential for advisor credibility.
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