President Donald Trump’s support for cryptocurrency is influencing how large hedge funds invest in digital assets. A 2025 survey by the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and PwC found that 55% of traditional hedge funds now hold crypto, up from 47% last year.
The survey was conducted in early 2025. It included 122 large investors and hedge fund managers worldwide, managing nearly $1 trillion in assets.
Many respondents credited Trump’s regulatory approach for increasing crypto confidence. This includes his appointments of crypto-friendly agency heads and his signing of the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins.
James Delaney, managing director of asset management regulation at AIMA, said, “For most of these funds, regulatory uncertainty has been a major barrier. This year those barriers are starting to be removed.” The survey also showed that 47% of institutional investors boosted their crypto investments due to better regulations.
Hedge Funds Increasing Crypto Investments
Hedge fund managers are motivated by both regulation and profit opportunities. They acknowledge crypto’s risks but see strong potential gains. On average, funds now allocate 7% of assets to crypto, up from 6% last year.
More than half of funds commit less than 2% to crypto, but 71% plan to raise that exposure within 12 months.
Popular Crypto Assets and Strategies
Bitcoin remains the top crypto asset for hedge funds. It is followed by Ether and Solana. Solana’s popularity rose sharply, held by 73% of funds this year compared to 45% in 2024.
Major firms such as Brevan Howard, Point72, and Elliott Investment Management hold Bitcoin and Ethereum through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). About 33% of respondents use crypto ETFs, up from 25% last year.
Crypto derivatives are the entry point for 67% of funds, making them the most popular. Spot trading interest rose from 25% to 40%. Around 52% of respondents showed interest in tokenization. Additionally, 43% plan to expand into decentralized finance (DeFi) within three years.
