Nexo study: 67% of affluent investors own crypto

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Affluent investors own crypto

Crypto ownership does not mean integration

Researchers divided participants into five categories, ranging from investors with no crypto exposure to those who have made digital assets the foundation of their portfolios. Only 4.7% of respondents fell into the latter group.

Most crypto holders maintain relatively small positions and do not incorporate digital assets into long-term financial or retirement planning. The study identifies security concerns, fees and infrastructure complexity as some of the main barriers to deeper integration.

There are also notable differences between countries. The U.S. showed the most polarized structure, with both the highest share of investors deeply integrating crypto and the highest share of participants who have not entered the market at all. In the U.K., digital assets are more commonly viewed as a diversification tool, while in Argentina their use is more closely linked to inflation and capital controls.

Age also influences investor behavior. Younger participants are more likely to own cryptocurrencies, but high adoption alone does not mean digital assets are becoming part of their long-term wealth management strategies.

Infrastructure remains a key barrier

Nexo links deeper integration of digital assets to the development of tools that allow cryptocurrencies to fit into familiar financial strategies. Researchers highlighted the expansion of spot Bitcoin ETFs, real-world asset tokenization and stablecoin infrastructure as factors supporting this process.

According to the report, the value of tokenized real-world assets on public blockchains reached $28 billion, increasing by around 400% over 15 months. Nexo estimated adjusted stablecoin transaction volume at $28 trillion in 2025.

Another challenge for investors is the relationship between a crypto project's success and the value of its token. Using Ripple and Circle as examples, Weiss Ratings noted that growth in a platform's business or revenue does not necessarily translate directly into gains for holders of its associated digital assets.

When evaluating tokens, investors therefore need to consider not only a project's popularity but also the mechanism through which economic value is passed on to asset holders. A direct link between ecosystem revenue and the token can make such investments fundamentally different from simply betting on a recognizable brand.

Earlier, we reported on a Traders Union study showing that as crypto portfolios grow, investors become more demanding of exchanges and asset custody infrastructure. The study found declining trust in trading platforms as the value of digital assets in investors' portfolios increased.

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