Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley has outlined emerging trends expected to shape the cryptocurrency market in 2027, emphasizing the increasing involvement of major financial institutions.
Institutional engagement grows in crypto
Horsley highlighted a broad shift seen throughout 2026, pointing out that financial institutions have significantly deepened their role in digital assets. He referenced a comment from Charles Schwab, a well-known financial services firm, which claimed that crypto is playing a growing part in Americans’ investment strategies. Schwab based this observation on results from the 2026 Modern Wealth Survey.
Mini dictionary: Charles Schwab is a major US-based financial services company focused on brokerage, banking, and investment management for retail and institutional clients.
The Modern Wealth Survey, conducted online by Logica Research for Charles Schwab, polled Americans nationwide from August 24 to September 17, 2026, to assess their attitudes and plans regarding investments such as stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.
Crypto adoption on the rise among investors
According to Schwab’s survey results, cryptocurrency investors show a stronger intention to increase their holdings compared to other asset classes. Sixty percent of respondents holding crypto said they plan to invest more over the next year. In comparison, 56% of ETF owners and 52% of stock investors intend to expand their positions. If realized, this trend could further accelerate digital asset adoption in the United States.
| Asset Class | % Planning to Add Holdings (2027) |
|---|---|
| Cryptocurrency | 60% |
| ETFs | 56% |
| Stocks | 52% |
Survey participants identified long-term growth and portfolio diversification as leading motivators for their interest in cryptocurrency. More than half of Americans familiar with crypto described it as important or essential to building wealth, reflecting a shift in perceptions about the asset class.
More than half of all respondents indicated they expect to add to their crypto holdings in the coming year, outpacing both ETF and stock investors, according to the 2026 Modern Wealth Survey.
The survey also found that half of crypto owners view digital assets primarily as a complement to their traditional investments. Additionally, more than two out of five Americans acquainted with crypto expect the asset class to gain broader popularity in the future. Millennials emerged as the generation most likely to own or express strong interest in cryptocurrency.
Institutional strategy favors passive exposure
Separate research from Binance has also indicated strong institutional appetite for digital assets. The 2026 survey by EY-Parthenon and Coinbase showed that 73% of institutions intend to boost their digital asset investments this year. AIMA and PwC reported that 55% of traditional hedge funds now hold cryptocurrency, increasing from 47% in 2024.
Mini dictionary: AIMA (Alternative Investment Management Association) is a global industry body for hedge funds and alternative investment firms. PwC is a multinational professional services network. EY-Parthenon is a strategy consultancy under Ernst & Young. Coinbase is a leading US-based cryptocurrency exchange platform.
Despite increasing demand, institutional capital is mainly allocated to passive investment vehicles. Eighty-one percent of surveyed institutions prefer direct spot exposure via regulated products instead of engaging specialist asset managers. This trend appears to reflect the current state of market infrastructure rather than a preference for specific investment expertise.
In the EY-Parthenon and Coinbase 2026 survey, 73% of institutions reported plans to increase their digital asset investments, while most still favor passive, regulated market exposure.
