President Donald Trump’s support for crypto is changing how big hedge funds view digital assets. According to a 2025 survey by the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and PwC, 55% of traditional hedge funds now hold crypto, up from 47% last year.
The survey, conducted in the first half of 2025, included 122 large investors and hedge fund managers worldwide, together managing almost $1 trillion.
Many respondents said Trump’s regulatory stance, including his appointment of crypto-friendly agency heads and the signing of the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins, has helped reduce concerns many have about cryptocurrencies.
“For most of these funds, regulatory uncertainty has been a major barrier,” said James Delaney, managing director of asset management regulation at AIMA. “This year those barriers are starting to be removed.” The survey also showed that 47% of institutional investors increased their crypto allocations due to the improved regulatory climate.
Hedge funds chase opportunity
Aside from regulations, many managers fear missing out on big profits, and this remains a factor that motivates the funds. They see crypto as risky but full of opportunities. On average, hedge funds allocated 7% of their assets to crypto, up from 6% last year. Over half commit less than 2%, but 71% plan to increase exposure within the next 12 months.
Bitcoin is still the top choice among crypto assets that hedge funds focus on, followed by Ether and Solana. Solana has gained popularity this year, held by 73% of funds compared to 45% in 2024. Major firms such as Brevan Howard, Point72, and Elliott Investment Management have also joined the trend and currently hold Bitcoin and Ethereum through exchange-traded funds. About 33% of survey respondents said they used ETFs, up from 25% last year.
Crypto derivatives have become the most popular entry point, used by 67% of funds, followed by spot trading, up from 25% to 40%. Roughly 52% of respondents showed some level of interest in tokenization, and 43% have plans to extend their business into DeFi within three years.
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