Asia’s Wealthy Are Hungry: New Survey Shows Surging Crypto Appetite Among High-Net-Worth Investors

Forget gold watches and vintage wines—Asia's elite are loading up on digital assets.

The Quiet Portfolio Shift

Behind closed doors in private banks and family offices, a reallocation is underway. High-net-worth individuals across the continent are moving beyond mere curiosity, actively funneling capital into cryptocurrencies. It's not a speculative dabble; it's a strategic position. They're not just buying Bitcoin—they're building exposure to an entire alternative financial system.

Ditching the Old Guard

Traditional finance, with its sluggish settlements and gatekept access, looks increasingly archaic. Crypto offers a direct path—it cuts out middlemen, bypasses geographic restrictions, and operates on a 24/7 clock. For investors used to moving markets, that kind of efficiency and control is irresistible. It's portfolio diversification with a side of technological rebellion.

The Trust Equation

Skepticism is melting into pragmatism. The narrative has shifted from 'dangerous bubble' to 'inevitable infrastructure.' While regulatory frameworks like Japan's FSA provide a veneer of safety, the real draw is the underlying tech—transparent, programmable, and borderless. These investors aren't gambling; they're hedging against the obsolescence of legacy systems.

A New Breed of Asset

This isn't just about storing value. It's about accessing decentralized finance, tokenized real-world assets, and governance rights in emerging digital economies. Their portfolios are becoming a blend of the tangible and the algorithmic—a stark contrast to the paper promises and quarterly reports of traditional equity.

The trend signals a profound loss of patience. When the wealthy start voting with their wallets, traditional institutions scramble to catch up—usually just in time to take a hefty fee for the privilege. The old money playbook is being rewritten in code, and Asia's investors are holding the pen.

In brief

• 60% of wealthy Asian investors plan to increase their crypto allocation in the coming years, showing a steady rise in interest.
• A large share already holds crypto, with 87% maintaining some exposure as digital assets become part of their broader portfolios.
• Interest now stretches beyond major coins, with growing attention on wider ETFs, yield products, and assets such as Solana and XRP.

Wealthy Investors Leaning into Crypto

The Sygnum APAC HNWI Report 2025 reveals a noticeable shift in how high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in Asia approach digital assets. According to the survey, 60% of these investors plan to increase their crypto allocations in the NEAR future. Furthermore, 90% now see cryptocurrencies as essential for preserving wealth and planning for future generations, moving away from viewing them solely as speculative opportunities.

Reflecting this trend, diversification has become the primary motivation for 56% of investors, and this focus is evident in current holdings: 87% of crypto holders already have exposure, with nearly half allocating over 10% of their portfolios to digital assets.

Confidence in the sector is strong, with 57% of HNWIs and 61% of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) expressing Optimism about its long-term prospects. Their positive outlook is further supported by the increasing integration of cryptocurrencies with traditional financial markets, which adds credibility and stability to the asset class.

Appetite for Broader Products

The survey shows growing interest in ETFs and yield-enhanced products that go beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, illustrating investors’ focus on both diversification and income potential:

• Around 80% of APAC HNWIs are interested in ETFs offering broader crypto exposure, with Solana drawing the most attention at 52%.
• Multi-asset index products appeal to 48% of respondents, while 41% express interest in XRP, reflecting a desire for more diversified crypto allocations.
• About 70% said they would increase their crypto holdings if ETFs included staking yields or other income features, emphasizing the attraction of products that combine growth with earning potential.

The survey itself drew on a highly experienced group of investors, collecting insights from 270 high-net-worth individuals across ten Asia-Pacific countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand. Most participants have over a decade of market experience, with around 20% active for more than 20 years. Notably, 95% identified as independent investors rather than representatives of institutions, underscoring a mature and self-directed investor base.

Crypto Regulation Still a Key Obstacle

Gerald Goh, Sygnum’s co-founder and APAC CEO, noted that digital assets have become an important part of private wealth portfolios across the region. However, the report makes clear that growth is still held back by regulatory uncertainty, with gaps in asset protection, uneven licensing standards, and differing rules across markets continuing to discourage deeper participation from some investors.

Despite these challenges, Goh noted that Asia’s regulatory framework is designed to guide growth responsibly rather than simply restrict it. He pointed to Singapore’s Monetary Authority (MAS), which has tightened licensing rules, increased capital requirements, and limited retail participation in a measured way to strengthen the crypto ecosystem rather than shut it down. According to Goh, this ensures that firms meeting the standards operate at a fully institutional level.

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