According to Forbes, their 2025 High Net Worth Survey reveals a stunning reversal in how wealthy investors view cryptocurrency. The percentage of high-net-worth individuals calling digital assets a “significant part” of their portfolio collapsed by 64% – dropping from 44% in 2024 to just 16% in 2025. The survey polled 250 global investors with over $2 million in assets between April and May 2025. Meanwhile, belief that cryptocurrencies represent the future of money dropped from 74% to 52% year-over-year. More wealthy investors now expect regulation, with 54% agreeing crypto will face banking-style rules, up 12 points since 2024. And 41% remain consistently skeptical that crypto will ever be as trusted as traditional investments.
The Great Crypto Pullback
This isn’t just a minor adjustment – it’s a wholesale retreat. When you see numbers drop this dramatically in just twelve months, something fundamental has shifted. The wealthy aren’t just rebalancing; they’re running for the exits. And honestly, can you blame them? Between the fading political hype and constant headlines about scams, the risk-reward calculation has clearly changed.
Optimism Meets Reality
Here’s the thing that fascinates me: wealthy investors still believe in the long-term potential. Over half still think crypto represents the future of money. But belief without action is basically just wishful thinking. They’re keeping their powder dry until the landscape becomes more predictable. The fact that regulatory expectations are rising tells you everything – these investors want guardrails before they jump back in.
The Trust Deficit
Look, 41% of wealthy investors don’t trust crypto as much as traditional investments, and that number hasn’t budged. That’s the real story here. When you’ve got real money to protect, the constant threat of scams and theft becomes unacceptable. It’s one thing to gamble with pocket change, quite another to risk serious wealth. And with stories like Japan mining Bitcoin for energy strategy making headlines, the narrative has shifted from get-rich-quick to practical utility.
What Comes Next
So where does this leave crypto? In a weird limbo, honestly. The wealthy still believe in the concept but don’t trust the current reality. They’re waiting for regulation, waiting for security improvements, waiting for the hype to settle. Basically, they’ve moved from FOMO to FONGO – fear of not getting out. Until the industry matures beyond its wild west phase, don’t expect the big money to come rushing back anytime soon.
