Crypto for Advisors: The crypto advice gap

I recently ran an informal survey of crypto-holding individuals in the Real Mamas of Crypto community, a global network of more than 220 senior professionals in tech who are also mothers. Every member is crypto-native and a decision maker in her household finances. She also has a front-row seat to what her children want next. The pattern in the responses is unambiguous, and traditional wealth advisors should take note.

Chart: Does your current financial advisor know about or manage your crypto holdings?

These are long-term allocators. Nearly every respondent described bitcoin, ether or solana as a core long-term position. Asked what they do when capital rotates into AI stocks or IPOs, the dominant answer was, “I notice but hold.” This is not the crypto-bro day trading portrayed in mainstream media. It is buy-and-hold behavior applied to a new asset class.

The crypto is already in the plan. Roughly half of respondents said crypto is part of their estate or inheritance planning, and many have considered gifting it to their children. The asset has entered the family balance sheet whether or not an advisor participates.

Nearly no one is using their wealth advisor to manage their crypto. Exactly one respondent said an advisor manages their crypto. The rest split between “they know but won't touch it,” “they don't know,” and no advisor at all. When asked what it would take to trust an advisor with these assets, respondents were specific: demonstrated industry expertise, understanding of privacy concerns, demonstrated tax and custody competence, security and credibility. One wrote that an advisor would need to be “crypto native, not a Trad-Fi advisor who read a whitepaper.”