With UK rules on how cryptos can be held in exchange-traded products about to change, this news service asked European investors, including those in the UK, what their appetite for this area is.

A survey of 1,000 UK investors finds that two in five of them would be more likely to use cryptocurrencies if their bank, investment platform or advisors offered access. 

Barriers are set to ease; the Financial Conduct Authority will be permitting retail investors to access London-listed crypto exchange-traded products from 8 October.

A new survey commissioned by WisdomTree, an issuer of crypto ETPs in Europe, suggested that regulatory change could encourage wider crypto adoption.

One in five UK investors (20 per cent) said that changes in local market rules would influence their view of cryptocurrencies. Investors increasingly view crypto as part of long-term financial planning rather than a purely speculative asset. Among those engaged with crypto, a quarter (26 per cent) said they use it as part of a retirement strategy, while one in five (21 per cent) are saving towards a home purchase.

The WisdomTree survey conducted by Opinium questioned 3,000 adults with €5,000 in savings or investments based in the UK, Germany and Italy – 1,000 respondents per country.

“Now that the FCA has permitted retail access to UK-listed crypto ETPs, we expect this to become the preferred vehicle for investors. Institutions will play a crucial role in guiding adoption, whether through advisors, platforms, or direct allocations,” Adria Beso, head of distribution, Europe at WisdomTree, said.

WisdomTree said its analysis shows that adding as little as 1 per cent exposure to crypto in a diversified portfolio can improve returns with limited impact on overall risk. By contrast, nearly one in four (23 per cent) UK savers and investors say they would consider putting more than 10 per cent of their portfolio into crypto, a sign that enthusiasm may be running ahead of understanding.

Meanwhile, volatile cryptos such as bitcoin have emerged from the shadows to become a more mainstream financial talking point. Since the start of 2025, bitcoin has risen by 20 per cent, reaching around $112,100 per coin. In the US, a variety of regulatory changes have propelled cryptos and digital assets, and in Hong Kong, the city's authorities have moved to boost what are called "stablecoins". 

The pattern of sentiment in the wider wealth industry is mixed. For example, Citi Wealth earlier this month released its 2025 Global Family Office report compiled by the group’s 1,800 family offices worldwide and it struck a cautious note on what family offices think of digital assets in general. "Despite an increasingly favorable regulatory backdrop in the US and a recent increase in cryptocurrency valuations, digital assets were not a priority for most family office respondents (69 per cent) globally. Of the minority, 13 per cent were considering investing but remain in the `research' phase. Just 15 per cent allocated up to 5 per cent to digital assets. A small handful (3 per cent) allocated 5–10 per cent or more, similar to last year," it said.

Knowledge gap
Nearly three in four (72 per cent) UK savers and investors say they are not knowledgeable about cryptocurrencies, and nearly a third (31 per cent) indicate that they would not know how to react if prices fell sharply.

“Education is essential to helping investors use crypto sensibly and manage the ups and downs,” Dovile Silenskyte, director, digital assets research at WisdomTree, said. “By understanding how crypto works in a portfolio and how to react when prices fall, people can avoid taking on too much risk and make decisions that support their long-term goals. Simple approaches like investing regularly and building balanced portfolios can make a real difference over time.”