Asia’s Wealthy Investors Increasing Cryptocurrency Exposure in Portfolios
By Summer Zhen and Rae Wee
August 21, 2025 | Hong Kong/Singapore
Wealthy families and family offices across Asia are significantly boosting their investments in cryptocurrencies. This growing interest is fueled by bullish market sentiments on digital assets, expanding mainstream adoption, and supportive regulatory developments in key markets throughout the region.
Wealth managers report a surge in client inquiries regarding cryptocurrencies. Major crypto exchanges have experienced notable increases in trading volumes, and demand for crypto investment funds has skyrocketed, as high-net-worth Asian investors seek greater exposure to digital assets.
Jason Huang, founder of NextGen Digital Venture, highlighted the strong investor response: "We raised over $100 million in just a few months, and the response from Limited Partners has been encouraging." Huang launched the Next Generation Fund II, a long-short crypto equity fund based in Singapore, in May 2025. This follow-up fund comes after closing his first fund last year, which achieved a remarkable 375% return in under two years. "Our investors—mainly family offices and internet/fintech entrepreneurs—recognize the growing role of digital assets in diversified portfolios," he added.
Supporting this trend, UBS’s wealth management division in China noted: "Some overseas Chinese family offices plan to raise their crypto exposure to around 5% of their portfolios." Lu Zijie, head of wealth management at UBS China, observed that "many second- and third-generation individuals of family offices are starting to learn about and participate in virtual currencies."
The intensified interest coincides with strong cryptocurrency returns and favorable regulatory changes, particularly in the United States. The recently approved GENIUS Act under President Donald Trump’s administration reflects a positive shift, contributing to heightened confidence in the sector. Bitcoin’s price has surged, surpassing $124,000 this month, setting new all-time highs.
In Asia, Hong Kong’s recent passage of stablecoin legislation has further stimulated crypto enthusiasm. Saad Ahmed, head of Asia Pacific at crypto exchange Gemini, remarked, "The momentum has definitely built, and I think it’s a function of just the general maturity of the asset class."
Wealth managers also noted a significant shift in mindset among Asian clients. Investors who previously favored small allocations to digital currencies now see cryptocurrencies as an essential portfolio component. Many are actively exploring strategies to optimize returns on their crypto holdings.
Zann Kwan, chief investment officer at Singapore-based Revo Digital Family Office, explained: "Last year, family offices started to dip their feet into bitcoin ETFs… now they have begun to learn the difference of holding a token directly." More sophisticated family offices, according to Lighthouse Canton, another wealth manager in Singapore, have moved towards advanced market-neutral strategies such as basis trades and arbitrage.
Fidelity International’s associate investment director for digital assets, Giselle Lai, emphasized that investors are increasingly viewing bitcoin as a "portfolio diversifier" to hedge against macroeconomic uncertainties, citing its low correlation with traditional stocks and bonds.
Cryptocurrency exchanges across Asia are clearly benefiting from this increased participation. The number of registered users at Hong Kong’s HashKey Exchange grew by 85% year-on-year as of August 2025. Additionally, total trading volumes on South Korea’s three major exchanges expanded by 17% in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with average daily volumes rising over 20%, according to CryptoQuant research data.
As Asian wealth holders deepen their engagement with cryptocurrencies, the market appears poised for sustained growth and increased sophistication in investment approaches.
Reporting by Summer Zhen and Rae Wee; Additional reporting by Gu Li; Editing by Vidya Ranganathan and Jacqueline Wong
© 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved.