Family Offices Expand Crypto Exposure Amid Volatility Clouds 2026 Outlook
Global family offices increased their crypto exposure in 2025, evolving from crypto experimenters to structured allocators. Bitcoin and Ether remain the primary entry points due to improved infrastructure, although many family offices still have limited in-house crypto expertise.
As of October, 74% of ultra-high-net-worth family offices are investing in or actively exploring cryptocurrencies, a rise of 21 percentage points year-over-year according to BNY Mellon. Significant investments include Hong Kong-based family office VMS's $10 million stake in digital asset hedge fund Re7 and Arthur Hayes' family office planning to raise $250 million for a crypto-focused private equity fund.
An anticipated revival in IPO activity could deepen family offices' involvement in crypto in 2026, attracting more interest through ETFs and other regulated vehicles. Pete Najarian of Raptor Digital expects that if public markets reopen with a more active IPO pipeline, crypto may take a larger share of family office portfolios.
However, the crypto market has lost over $1 trillion in capitalization since October, with Bitcoin and Ether each declining by more than 30% during that period. This volatility is causing some investors, such as a UAE-based family office, to shift toward steadier assets like real estate, signaling a move away from broader adoption.
Success in 2026 for family offices in crypto investments will rely on discipline—focusing on infrastructure, making selective bets, and applying strong underwriting rather than engaging in short-term speculation.
