TL;DR
- Advisors hold $10.3B (48%) of all spot Bitcoin ETF assets
- 13F filings show fastest institutional ETF adoption in years
- Advisor share forecasted to exceed 40% of all crypto ETF AUM by 2026
Investment advisor firms now hold nearly half of all spot Bitcoin ETF assets, more than $10.3 billion, and they’re just getting started. Their aggressive move into Ethereum ETFs marks a broader shift: institutional finance is normalizing crypto exposure at scale.
While headlines chase crypto price swings, professional advisors are reshaping the underlying ownership. In a trend that’s largely flown under the radar, these firms have emerged as the largest holders of spot Bitcoin ETFs, and now they’re turning to Ether. Their growing appetite signals a major turning point, crypto isn’t just for the bold anymore; it’s for the boardroom.
Institutional Access Hits a Tipping Point
Recent 13F filings show that investment advisors now control $10.28 billion in spot Bitcoin ETF assets, representing 124,753 BTC,roughly 48% of all institutional holdings. Hedge funds follow with $6.9 billion (83,934 BTC), while brokerages and holding companies trail behind.
Eric Balchunas, a senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, called advisors “#1 by a mile” and noted the pace of adoption. According to his estimates, 13F filers now make up 20% of total spot Bitcoin ETF assets, a figure expected to climb to 40% by 2026 as traditional finance embraces crypto.
ETF Holdings Breakdown
| Holder Type | BTC ETF Value | BTC Held | ETH ETF Value | ETH Held |
| Advisors | $10.28B | 124,753 | $582M | 320,089 |
| Hedge Funds | $6.9B | 83,934 | $244M | 134,469 |
| Total ETH ETF (Institutional) | $1.06B | 587,348 |
Bloomberg Terminal, 13F Filings, Balchunas & Seyffart (Bloomberg)
Why This Structure Works for Advisors
Spot ETFs offer institutions the ability to access crypto assets without taking on the risk and complexity of direct custody. The ETF holds the underlying Bitcoin or Ether, while firms buy and sell shares on regulated exchanges. For advisors, this setup provides a compliant, tax-efficient, and scalable on-ramp to crypto,one that aligns with their fiduciary obligations.
The simplicity of this architecture isn’t new, but the level of buy-in from traditional firms is.
Ethereum Follows Bitcoin’s Path
The momentum isn’t limited to Bitcoin. James Seyffart of Bloomberg reports that Ethereum ETFs are gaining traction rapidly. Advisor firms already lead exposure with $582 million across 320,089 ETH, while hedge funds hold $244 million. In total, institutional ETH ETF exposure now exceeds $1.06 billion.
While Ether’s footprint is still smaller than Bitcoin’s, it’s gaining institutional legitimacy fast, another sign that diversified crypto allocations are maturing.
Forecast: A 40% Threshold and New Norms for Crypto AUM
If current trends continue, advisor-controlled assets under management (AUM) for crypto ETFs could eclipse 40% by 2026. That would mark a seismic shift: crypto moving from a niche asset class to a core component of long-term portfolios, including pensions, endowments, and family offices.
And if the trend stalls? It could suggest that even regulated wrappers like ETFs can’t fully tame crypto’s volatility for mainstream investors. But all signs point toward deeper integration, not retreat.
