UBS Reports Surging Crypto Demand Among Asia’s Wealthy Elite

Asian millionaires are diving headfirst into digital assets—and traditional banks are scrambling to keep up.

Wealth Management Shakeup

UBS advisors report unprecedented client requests for crypto exposure across Hong Kong, Singapore, and emerging markets. Private banking teams now field daily inquiries about Bitcoin allocation strategies and altcoin portfolios.

The Institutional Gateway

Family offices aren't just buying coins—they're demanding regulated custody solutions and structured products. Swiss bankers suddenly find themselves explaining proof-of-stake yields to clients who used to only care about dividend stocks.

Regional Momentum Builds

Singapore's regulatory clarity and Hong Kong's ETF approvals created perfect conditions for this surge. Meanwhile, traditional wealth managers still trying to sell 2% bonds look increasingly irrelevant.

This isn't speculative retail frenzy—it's calculated capital migration by investors who recognize outdated portfolio models. Maybe finally Wall Street will learn that 'store of value' beats 'status quo'.

Wealth Managers Report Accelerating Inquiries, Crypto Exchanges See Higher Activity Among Asian Investors 

Asia’s wealthy investors are going from exploratory to strategic crypto allocations. Furthermore, wealth managers reported accelerated crypto inquiries. Crypto exchanges are seeing higher activity. And funds are raising fresh capital.

“The momentum has definitely built, and I think it’s a function of just general maturity of the asset class,” said Saad Ahmed, head of Asia Pacific at crypto exchange Gemini.

Meanwhile, Giselle Lai, associate investment director for digital assets at Fidelity International, said that investors are increasingly treating Bitcoin as a “portfolio diversifier” to hedge macro uncertainties, given its low correlation with stocks and bonds.

Notably, the adoption of regulated products like bitcoin ETFs acted as a gateway with many Asian investors.

“Last year, wealthy family offices started to dip their feet into bitcoin ETFs. Now they have begun to learn the difference of holding a token directly,” said Zann Kwan, chief investment officer at Singapore-based Revo Digital Family Office.

JUST IN:Chinese billionaire Mike Cai calls Bitcoin “digital gold” in public statement. pic.twitter.com/BswrOhydKI

— Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) June 4, 2025

Key Takeaways

• UBS reports some overseas Chinese family offices plan to increase crypto exposure to around 5% of their portfolios, reflecting a more formalized role for digital assets in wealth management mandates.

• Fundraising momentum is notable. NextGen Digital Venture founder Jason Huang said the firm raised over $100 million in a matter of months to launch a new long-short crypto equity fund in Singapore, after closing a previous vehicle that returned 375% in less than two years.