Sixty percent of U.S. cryptocurrency investors plan to increase their holdings over the next 12 months, outpacing owners of every other major asset class measured in Charles Schwab's 2026 Modern Wealth Survey released Wednesday.

The share beats the same metric for ETF holders at 56%, stock owners at 52%, bond investors at 42% and mutual fund holders at 41%, according to the firm's press materials. The gap places digital assets at the top of the incremental-allocation rankings in a survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by Logica Research between August 24 and September 17, 2026.

What did Schwab's digital-assets chief say?

"Existing cryptocurrency investors are certainly leaning in, particularly younger investors who are driving much of the interest and momentum in cryptocurrency," Joe Vietri, Head of Digital Assets at Charles Schwab, said in a statement.

Vietri framed the data as evidence of a portfolio shift rather than a wholesale rotation. "But to me, the bigger story is that cryptocurrency is increasingly viewed as a complement to traditional investments," he added.

How big is Schwab's crypto footprint?

Charles Schwab is the largest custodian for registered investment advisors in the country, according to the firm. Earlier in 2026 the company began a phased rollout of Schwab Crypto to retail clients, providing direct bitcoin trading alongside educational content and professional support.

The brokerage also distributes crypto-linked exchange-traded funds, bitcoin futures and the Schwab Crypto Thematic Index ETF. Chief Executive Officer Rick Wurster has said Schwab clients hold more than 20% of all crypto exchange-traded products industry-wide, a figure that has not been independently verified.

How widespread is crypto ownership?

The survey recorded a national ownership rate of 20%, meaning one in five Americans reports holding cryptocurrency. Another 20% say they do not currently own any but are interested in buying. Among self-identified investors specifically, the ownership rate climbs to nearly half.

Generational data shows millennials are the most likely cohort to hold digital assets, at a rate more than four times that of baby boomers.

What does the survey methodology look like?

• Sample size: 2,000 U.S. adults
• Age range: 21 to 75
• Field period: August 24 to September 17, 2026
• Conducted by: Logica Research
• Format: Online survey, national sample

What are the operational consequences?

The findings land as Schwab deepens its retail crypto rails and as traditional asset managers continue to rebalance product lines around digital-asset exposure. A 60% incremental-allocation intent, if executed at scale, would channel fresh capital into spot bitcoin products, futures and ETF wrappers distributed through one of the largest registered-advisor custodians in the United States.

For competitors, the data frames a near-term retention challenge: any wealth platform that does not offer direct trading, futures access or thematic crypto exposure risks losing share to clients who explicitly want to add. The survey's forward-looking window closes in mid-2027, when the 12-month intent statements translate into realized flows that registered advisors and issuers will be able to measure against the survey's baseline.

Neither Schwab nor Logica Research has disclosed a follow-up reporting schedule for the Modern Wealth Survey, and the firm's next product update will likely coincide with quarterly earnings disclosures from the publicly traded parent company.