A Sygnum survey indicates a significant shift in how Asia's high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) view cryptocurrency. The report found that 87% of these individuals plan to increase their crypto portfolios, with nearly half allocating more than 10% of their assets to digital assets. Looking ahead over a 2-5 year horizon, 57% of HNWIs and 61% of the ultra-rich (UHNWIs) express bullish or very bullish sentiments about the long-term prospects of the crypto market.
Maturing Approach to Crypto Among Wealthy Investors
The Sygnum APAC HNWI Report 2025 highlights a maturation in the approach of wealthy individuals in the Asia-Pacific region towards cryptocurrency. Out of over 270 surveyed HNWIs, UHNWIs, and professional investors, 90% consider crypto important for long-term legacy planning and wealth preservation, moving beyond its perception as merely a speculative asset. The median HNWI holdings currently fall between 10% and 20% of their portfolios, with portfolio diversification cited as the primary driver for nearly 56% of investment decisions.
HNWIs also demonstrated a heightened interest in active exposure management and yield strategies. A significant majority, over 80%, expressed a desire for Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) that extend beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Furthermore, more than half of the HNWIs surveyed (52%) believe Solana will experience the next surge in demand. Notably, 70% of respondents indicated they would allocate or increase their allocations to crypto if staking yields were included.
Crypto Firmly Embedded in APAC's Wealthy Circles
Gerald Goh, Sygnum co-founder and APAC CEO, emphasized that cryptocurrency is now firmly embedded within the financial strategies of Asia's affluent population. Approximately 66% of surveyed individuals stated they would invest more confidently in crypto if their private banks or wealth managers demonstrated high security and custody standards. Goh also pointed out that regulatory frameworks in Hong Kong and Singapore, such as those established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), have laid the groundwork for traditional financial institutions to offer crypto services.
Goh suggested that the primary question is no longer whether private banks can meet this growing demand, but rather when they will begin to do so. He noted a continued acceleration of crypto adoption, fueled by the need for portfolio diversification, demand for institutional-grade products, and international wealth planning, even amidst current macroeconomic uncertainties.
“APAC is rapidly becoming one of the world’s fastest growing and most important digital asset gateways, and we expect this momentum to strengthen further into 2026.”
– Gerald Goh, Co-founder of Sygnum and CEO of APAC
The report also revealed that nearly 48% of the surveyed respondents expressed a strong interest in multi-asset index products, while approximately 41% are interested in XRP. These findings underscore a preference among APAC investors for regulated, yield-bearing investment vehicles that can be seamlessly integrated with traditional financial systems.
APAC HNWIs Embrace Crypto for Wealth Creation
Lucas Schweiger, the report's author and Sygnum's crypto asset ecosystem research lead, concurred that HNWIs across the wider APAC region are increasingly embracing cryptocurrency as a legitimate avenue for wealth creation and preservation. He believes that their integrated and disciplined approach to crypto investments is a key factor driving substantial allocations to the asset class. Schweiger further highlighted that Singapore's MAS framework provides investors with the institutional-grade safeguards they expect.
While over 60% of respondents confirmed plans to increase their crypto allocations, many investors indicated they are timing their entries cautiously due to recent market corrections. However, the report also identified regulatory uncertainty, differing regional licensing frameworks, and concerns over security and custody as significant barriers that hinder increased participation in the crypto space.
The Sygnum APAC HNWI Report 2025 surveyed independent market participants from 10 Asia-Pacific markets, including Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, and Indonesia. Over 95% of the respondents were classified as independent market participants. Notably, more than 50% of the respondents reported having over 10 years of experience in crypto investments, with approximately 20% of this group claiming more than 20 years of experience.