Asia-Pacific’s Wealthy Investors Are Increasingly Turning to Crypto
Asia’s wealthiest investors are putting meaningful portions of their portfolios into digital assets, with nearly half now allocating more than 10% to crypto—and most planning to increase those holdings over the next few years.
A new APAC HNWI Report from Swiss–Singaporean digital asset bank Sygnum shows that 87% of more than 270 surveyed high-net-worth and professional investors already hold digital assets. The survey covered 10 key markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand. Participants were classified as high net worth with over $1 million in investable assets, and ultra-high net worth with more than $25 million.
Crypto Becomes a Core Portfolio Holding
For wealthy investors in Asia-Pacific, crypto is no longer a fringe bet—it’s becoming a core allocation. Median holdings fall between 10% and 20%, with a weighted average near 17%, placing digital assets alongside equities and private markets inside traditional portfolios.
Sygnum found that motivations have shifted significantly. Nine out of ten respondents now view digital assets as important for long-term wealth preservation and legacy planning, not just short-term speculation. Diversification remains the top driver, with 56% citing it as a key reason to allocate to crypto, framing it as a new alternative asset class.
Investors Expect the Next Major Crypto Cycle in 2–5 Years
Looking ahead, 60% of investors plan to increase their crypto allocation. A bullish long-term outlook is shared by 57% of high-net-worth investors and 61% of ultra-high-net-worth investors. Most expect the next strong crypto cycle to arrive within the next two to five years, rather than imminently.
Demand for investment products also shows a maturing market. Beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, 80% of respondents want more crypto ETFs, with Solana emerging as the most requested single-asset exposure at 52%.
Multi-asset index products and XRP are also drawing interest. Notably, 70% of investors say they would allocate—or allocate more—if ETF structures included staking yields, a sign that wealthier investors prefer regulated, yield-generating products that fit neatly into traditional portfolios.
APAC Becomes a Leading Hub as Digital Assets Enter Mainstream Wealth Management
Despite the optimism, security and regulation remain key considerations. About two-thirds of respondents say they need their private bank or wealth manager to demonstrate strong custody and security standards before increasing exposure. Regulatory uncertainty and volatility are still the main barriers slowing allocation growth.
Even so, most investors agree that regulatory clarity in the region has improved. Policy developments in major Asian markets have strengthened the long-term case for digital assets.
“Digital assets are now firmly embedded within APAC’s private wealth ecosystem,” said Gerald Goh, Sygnum co-founder and APAC CEO. He added that regulatory frameworks in Singapore and Hong Kong have built the infrastructure needed for traditional wealth managers to offer crypto services, positioning Asia-Pacific as one of the world’s fastest-growing gateways for digital assets—momentum he expects to continue into 2026.
