According to a recent report, 87% of high net worth individuals (HNWI) in Asia hold digital assets and 60% intend to increase their allocations.
This reveals an increasingly mature digital asset sector across the region. Wealthy investors in key markets are increasingly considering crypto as an essential component of their portfolios.
The adoption of digital assets is accelerating among wealthy Asian investors.
The findings come from Sygnum's APAC HNWI Report 2025. The survey, conducted with over 270 wealthy and professional investors from 10 markets in the Asia-Pacific region, indicates a significant shift: digital assets are becoming a structural component of long-term wealth strategies in the region.
The report found that 87% already own digital assets within their portfolios. Moreover, 49% of respondents allocate more than 10% of their portfolio to crypto, with the median exposure of HNWIs falling between 10% and 20%. 60% intend to increase their allocations.
"HNWIs in Singapore and across the APAC region are embracing digital assets as a true opportunity for wealth creation and preservation. Their disciplined and intergenerational approach to investments, combined with a greater risk appetite, is leading to consistent allocations to digital assets — particularly within the well-regulated framework of Singapore's MAS, which provides the institutional-grade guarantees expected by these investors," detailed Lucas Schweiger, report author and head of Sygnum's crypto asset ecosystem research.
Wealth preservation surpasses speculation.
A key element that emerged from the report is the increasingly sophisticated behavior of Asian private investors. 90% of respondents now consider digital assets important for long-term wealth preservation and intergenerational planning. Diversification has become the main reason for choosing how to allocate capital, surpassing short-term trading and exposure to mega trends.
Demand for more sophisticated products is also increasing. HNWIs are showing growing interest in actively managed investment strategies, external management mandates, and enhanced yield products that easily integrate into existing wealth structures.
In particular, investors are increasingly expecting traditional wealth managers to keep pace. Recently, BeInCrypto reported that a significant share of investors in the USA has already moved funds away from advisors who do not offer exposure to crypto.
"The regulatory framework of the MAS in Singapore and the increasing regulation of digital assets in Hong Kong have created the necessary infrastructure for traditional wealth managers to offer crypto services — the question is no longer if private banks will be able to meet this demand, but when they will move to do so," said Gerald Goh, co-founder of Sygnum and CEO APAC.
Demand for ETF diversification goes beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Demand for diversified exchange-traded funds is particularly pronounced. The report highlights that 80% of respondents want ETFs that go beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Solana stands out: 52% are interested in gaining exposure to this asset.
Interest in multi-asset crypto indices (48%) and XRP (41%) closely follows. In particular, 70% stated they would allocate funds, or increase allocations, if staking yield were incorporated into ETF structures.
However, Sygnum has noted that a significant share of investors is approaching the market with caution after recent turbulence.
Factors such as unclear regulation, ongoing concerns about custody and security, and varying licensing requirements depending on jurisdictions continue to limit greater participation.
Nonetheless, long-term confidence remains strong. 57% of HNWIs and 61% of UHNWIs (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals) express a bullish or very bullish outlook on the long-term crypto market. Their confidence is bolstered by the increasingly deep integration between crypto and traditional finance.
Goh emphasized that the APAC region is rapidly emerging as one of the fastest-growing and most impactful global hubs for digital assets, and he expects this momentum to accelerate further as the area approaches 2026.
