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Crypto Intelligence
By Zach Pandl, Head of Research

April 14, 2026

Crypto Tailwind: The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History

Zach Pandl
By Zach PandlGrayscale Head of Research

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Baby Boomers are the wealthiest generation in U.S. history.ย At the end of lastย year,ย they heldย nearlyย $90 trillionย in wealth, according to Federal Reserve dataย (see chart).ย Combinedย with the Silent Generation, Americansย roughly sixtyย years and older holdย aย netย worthย ofย approximatelyย $110 trillion. Over the coming decades, this wealthย will be passed down to younger generations.


Younger investors have strikingly different investment preferencesย thanย older investors, especially when it comes to crypto.ย Coinbaseโ€™sย State of Crypto surveyย found that 45% of Gen Z and Millennial investors own crypto, versus just 18% of Gen X and Baby Boomer investors.ย Pew Researchย surveysย find even lowerย crypto holdings among older ageย groupsย as a whole: justย 8% of Americans aged 50+ have ever invested in, traded or used cryptocurrencies.


We believe thatย theย upcomingย generationalย wealth transferย mayย have structural implications for crypto. As assets change hands, portfoliosย couldย shift to incorporate a higher share of crypto assets, creating a tailwind for valuations.ย For example,ย based on the currentย $110 trillionย in wealth held byย Baby Boomersย and the Silent Generation, a 2% flow into crypto allocations would imply anย additionalย $2.2 trillionย inย net newย demandย for digital assets.


Key Takeaway:ย Theย imminentย wealth transfer fromย older investors to younger investorsย may create a structural tailwind forย crypto assets.



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