Affluent investors are widening their crypto positions even as many financial advisers remain hesitant, while Bitcoin’s recent rally contends with elevated Treasury yields and major crypto-related firms reallocate capital.
Wealthy investors expand crypto allocations
A recent survey of 2,230 high-net-worth individuals across the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland found that a clear majority already hold digital assets, with crypto representing roughly 10% of an average portfolio. Ownership rates varied from just over half in Sweden to around seventy percent in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland. In five of the seven markets, at least 85% of current crypto holders intend to increase their exposure during 2026.
Despite this growing comfort, many advisers are perceived as overly cautious. Roughly four-in-ten respondents in Switzerland, France, the United States and Germany who work with a financial professional described their advisers as too hesitant about digital assets. Industry voices note that typical allocations may still sit between two and five percent, though some advocate for allocations as high as ten to forty percent depending on risk tolerance.
Bitcoin performance amid high Treasury yields
Bitcoin delivered a 43% gain in the third quarter, marking its strongest three-month period since 2017 and achieving a third consecutive weekly rise. The price briefly topped $87,000 before retreating to just under $83,000. Analysts caution that the upward trend is occurring against a backdrop of Treasury yields above 5%, which offers investors a compelling alternative to riskier assets.
The Federal Reserve’s recent data showed a weaker September payroll report, reducing expectations for an October rate increase. Nonetheless, elevated yields remain a barrier for assets like Bitcoin, even as some market participants argue that the “debasement trade” – favoring scarce assets such as Bitcoin and gold as a hedge against fiat currency erosion – does not rely on low-interest-rate environments.
OKX secures new funding at $25 billion valuation
OKX announced an undisclosed infusion of capital that maintains its valuation at $25 billion, extending a funding round that previously attracted $200 million from Intercontinental Exchange in March. Existing backers, including Standard Chartered’s venture arm, Qube Research & Technologies, Ripple and stablecoin issuer Circle, participated in the latest extension.
The exchange is deepening its engagement with traditional finance. A joint venture with ICE has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a tokenized stock trading platform under a new regulatory exemption, pending approval.
Strategy prioritises STRC buybacks over Bitcoin
Strategy reported spending $176.3 million to repurchase 1.77 million STRC shares in the most recent week, a figure more than six times the $28.7 million it allocated to acquire 334 Bitcoin. The buyback raised Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings to exactly 848,000 BTC, a modest 0.2% increase for the quarter after earlier purchases were partially offset by sales.
STRC’s price has recovered near its $100 par value, trading around $99.53 after a dip to roughly $75 in late June. Strategy also seeks shareholder approval to move dividend payments on several of its securities to a daily schedule, beginning in November for STRC and in January for related tokens.
Why it matters
The data underscores a divergence between investor appetite for crypto and the caution of traditional advisers, suggesting a potential shift in wealth-management practices. Bitcoin’s resilience amid high-yield pressures highlights its role as a potential hedge, while corporate moves by OKX and Strategy illustrate how capital is being redirected within the broader crypto ecosystem, influencing market dynamics and regulatory interactions.
