Key Takeaways
- • 39% of Canadian investors with financial advisors now report crypto recommendations, up sharply from 19% in 2023, reflecting a doubling of advisor adoption over two years.
- • 22% of investors have discussed crypto with their advisors, compared to 13% in 2023, demonstrating increased mainstream integration of digital assets into financial advisory conversations.
- • 25% of Canadian adults now own cryptocurrency, while 59% demonstrate awareness of crypto assets, according to an Ontario Securities Commission survey of 2,360 respondents conducted December 2025 to January 2026.
- • Approximately 70% of advisors have recommended crypto investments to at least 10% of their client base, with one in five advisors recommending crypto to all clients, signaling substantial shift in industry practice.
- • Portfolio diversification and long-term investment strategy are primary motivations for crypto acquisition among investors, alongside speculative positioning, with growing confidence that crypto will play a key role in future financial systems.
Summary
The Ontario Securities Commission's latest research reveals a significant acceleration in financial advisor adoption of cryptocurrency recommendations and client interest in digital assets. The OSC survey of 2,360 Canadian adults, conducted between December 2025 and January 2026, documented dramatic increases in both advisor-initiated crypto discussions and formal recommendations compared to 2023 baseline data.
Among investors working with financial advisors, 39% reported receiving crypto asset recommendations—more than double the 19% figure from 2023. This 20-percentage-point increase reflects a fundamental shift in how advisors incorporate alternative assets into portfolio construction. Additionally, 22% of respondents indicated they have discussed cryptocurrency with their advisors, up from 13% two years prior. The OSC characterized these findings as evidence that "investors with financial advisors are now more likely than before to cover crypto in their discussions" and actively seek advisor guidance on digital asset allocation.
Broader adoption metrics underscore the growing mainstream presence of cryptocurrency in retail investor portfolios. The survey found that 25% of Canadian respondents own crypto assets, while 59% demonstrate general awareness of the asset class. Among advisors themselves, approximately 70% have recommended crypto investments to at least 10% of their client base, with 20% of advisors now recommending cryptocurrency to all clients—indicating substantial variance in adoption intensity across the advisory profession.
Investor motivations for crypto acquisition center on portfolio diversification, long-term investment positioning, and speculative exposure, according to OSC findings. Concurrent with behavioral shifts, investors are expressing increased confidence that cryptocurrency will assume a meaningful role in future financial systems. The OSC identified growing advisor involvement in shaping crypto exposure as an opportunity to enhance investor understanding of the emerging asset class, suggesting the regulator views formalized advisory guidance as a mechanism for improving due diligence and risk awareness within the retail crypto segment.
Among investors working with financial advisors, 39% reported receiving crypto asset recommendations—more than double the 19% figure from 2023. This 20-percentage-point increase reflects a fundamental shift in how advisors incorporate alternative assets into portfolio construction. Additionally, 22% of respondents indicated they have discussed cryptocurrency with their advisors, up from 13% two years prior. The OSC characterized these findings as evidence that "investors with financial advisors are now more likely than before to cover crypto in their discussions" and actively seek advisor guidance on digital asset allocation.
Broader adoption metrics underscore the growing mainstream presence of cryptocurrency in retail investor portfolios. The survey found that 25% of Canadian respondents own crypto assets, while 59% demonstrate general awareness of the asset class. Among advisors themselves, approximately 70% have recommended crypto investments to at least 10% of their client base, with 20% of advisors now recommending cryptocurrency to all clients—indicating substantial variance in adoption intensity across the advisory profession.
Investor motivations for crypto acquisition center on portfolio diversification, long-term investment positioning, and speculative exposure, according to OSC findings. Concurrent with behavioral shifts, investors are expressing increased confidence that cryptocurrency will assume a meaningful role in future financial systems. The OSC identified growing advisor involvement in shaping crypto exposure as an opportunity to enhance investor understanding of the emerging asset class, suggesting the regulator views formalized advisory guidance as a mechanism for improving due diligence and risk awareness within the retail crypto segment.
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