Bitwise Survey: Almost 90% of financial advisors plan to buy Bitcoin post spot BTC ETF approvals

Bitwise Asset Management performed a survey on themes ranging from financial advisors’ current crypto allocations and preferred investment vehicles to Bitcoin price predictions, and the prevailing spot BTC exchange-traded funds (ETFs) mania. The findings of the research point to clear interest in cryptocurrency among clients, as well as access challenges among advisors, and the thicket that is unclear regulation and volatility in the crypto market.

Also Read: VanEck publishes Bitcoin ETF ad after BitWise and Hashdex as SEC settles on cash creates

Bitwise explores differences in perception between financial advisors and ETF specialist

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan conducted a survey alongside VettaFi data analytics' Chief Marketing Officer Jon Fee to determine the differences and similarities (if any), between experts in the financial space and those in the ETF sector. “If you want to gauge where crypto is going, you need to talk to the professionals who control roughly half the wealth in America,” said Hougan.  

Per the Bitwise executive, however, there remains a massive gap in expectations between advisors and those who monitor ETF developments for a living. According to Hougan, this expectation could translate into demand pressure, with the financial advisors acknowledging that there was still some upside potential to the spot BTC ETF approval.

The big takeaway from these advisors this year is that, for all the hoopla surrounding the potential approval of a spot bitcoin ETF; it doesn’t appear to be priced in.

Key takeaways from the Bitwise survey

Bitwise poll revealed that if the US SEC approves a spot bitcoin ETF, it could catalyze increased demand among investors beyond expectation.

Nevertheless, the survey indicated a clear contrast between the sentiments of financial advisors and those of ETF specialists. For starters, less than half (39%) of all advisors expect a spot bitcoin ETF in 2024. This is a huge difference from the 90% chances Bloomberg’s ETF specialists James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas continue to cling to.

The financial advisors also expressed interest in crypto equity ETFs as a top choice in terms of crypto exposure. Among them, 71% prefer BTC to Ethereum (ETH), with the turnout marking a significant increase from a previous survey that indicated 53%.

Besides the contrast, the common denominator between the two categories of respondents is that both believe an approval, if it comes, could catalyze the market. With this belief, 88% of the financial advisors expressed interest in acquiring BTC, but choose to wait until after a spot bitcoin ETF is approved.

Further, there is concern on matters of access, with only 19% being able to buy crypto in client accounts. Meanwhile, 98% of advisors with crypto exposure in client accounts intend to maintain or grow their portfolio this year.

Unlike the Matrixport report, Bitcoin price has not reacted to the findings of the Bitwise poll, and continues to push north, up 3% in the last 24 hours to trade for $43,956 as of the time of this writing. 

BTC/USDT 1-day chart

It is worth it to note that the survey featured 400 financial advisors, comprising independent registered investment advisors, broker-dealer representatives, financial planners, and wirehouse representatives from across the US.  

Also Read: Analyzing sell the news event if an approval does come