Shift gives 15,000 advisers the ability to recommend digital-asset exposure for the first time
Bank of America is preparing to expand crypto access across its wealth management platforms, endorsing a 1–4% digital-asset allocation and enabling direct exposure to several Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) starting early next year.
New Access for High-Net-Worth Clients
Beginning Jan. 5, clients across Merrill, Bank of America Private Bank, and Merrill Edge will be able to invest in four Bitcoin ETFs: Bitwise’s BITB, Fidelity’s FBTC, Grayscale’s BTC Mini Trust, and BlackRock’s IBIT. Until now, these products were available only upon request, and advisers were restricted from introducing any crypto-linked investments.
The firm’s chief investment office framed the move as suitable for investors comfortable with thematic innovation and market swings, recommending a “modest, risk-aware allocation. “marks a turning point for mainstream banks, which are now treating Bitcoin as a portfolio component rather than an outlier asset.”
Institutional Momentum Builds
The decision places Bank of America among a growing group of major financial institutions embracing regulated crypto products. Vanguard opened crypto ETF trading to clients just one day earlier, reversing a longstanding prohibition. Other global asset managers—including BlackRock, Fidelity, and Morgan Stanley—have also endorsed low-single-digit Bitcoin allocations as part of diversified portfolios.
With $2.67 trillion in assets, Bank of America is the second-largest U.S. bank, giving its crypto guidance substantial influence over retail and high-net-worth investment flows. The alignment of several industry heavyweights suggests that modest, regulated Bitcoin exposure is quickly becoming a new baseline in wealth management strategy.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.