In a major push to crypto adoption, Bank of America (BofA) has suggested its clients across all to gain some crypto exposure. The development comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up policy work to make the U.S. a lucrative market for the digital assets industry, which as of Tuesday, December 2 is valued at $3.09 trillion.
Bank of America has reportedly announced that clients across its Merrill, Bank of America Private Bank, and Merrill Edge platforms must consider allocating between one and four percent of their investment holdings to crypto assets, such as Bitcoin.
The suggestion, BofA said, could be applied to all of its client tiers that include Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank which cater to wealthy investors seeking dedicated advisory services, as well as its Merrill Edge clients that make for everyday investors who prefer a self-directed, digital brokerage approach.
“Our guidance emphasizes regulated vehicles, thoughtful allocation, and a clear understanding of both the opportunities and risks. The lower end of this range may be more appropriate for those with a conservative risk profile, while the higher end may suit investors with greater tolerance for overall portfolio risk,” Yahoo Finance quoted BofA’s chief investment officer, Chris Hyzy as saying.
Speculations swirling on social media suggest that starting January 2026, BofA plans to recommend four BTC ETFs – Bitwise BTC ETF, Fidelity Wise Origin BTC Fund, Grayscale BTC Mini Trust, and BlackRock iShares BTC Trust – to its clients as entry points into crypto exposure.
Many are calling the development “massive” on social media.
With the ongoing pro-crypto regulatory overhaul in the U.S., banks have been instructed to explore crypto-friendly services and engage with clients related to the sector. This approach is in stark contrast with the former U.S. President Joe Biden’s outlook, under whom banks were strongly discouraged from crypto engagement owing to the volatile nature of the assets.
As per reports, BofA has also cited a growing demand for guided access to digital assets that prompted it to allow its advisers to now start providing assistance.
The Global Investment Committee of Wall Street major Morgan Stanley has also recommended two percent to four percent wealth allocations into crypto for clients with high risk profiles suggesting ETF investments as entry points.