China Trust 2026 Ultra-High Net Worth Client Report: Over 30% of Taiwan's billionaires allocate to cryptocurrencies, far above the average

China Trust Bank and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) jointly released the “2026 Taiwan Ultra-High-Net-Worth Client Wealth Insights Report,” focusing primarily on high-net-worth clients with net assets exceeding NT$100 million within and outside Taiwan. The report reveals that high-net-worth users are still predominantly from the first-generation wealth creators and also discloses that over 30% of billion-level high-net-worth users have allocated assets to cryptocurrencies, far exceeding the proportion of cryptocurrency holders in Taiwan.

Client Profile Evolution: First-Generation Wealth Creators Still Dominant

Currently, the core of wealth remains centered around entrepreneurs aged 55 to 64 (the first-generation wealth creators), accounting for about 30%. The second and third generations (the new wealthy generation) make up approximately 25%. The report indicates that Taiwan’s family wealth structure is gradually entering a new stage of shared governance across generations.

The report states that billion-level ultra-high-net-worth clients are growing at an annual rate of 7%

Taiwan’s total personal wealth is projected to reach NT$279 trillion by 2029. While wealth continues to grow steadily, cross-border asset allocation has shifted from a risk-hedging option to a fundamental strategy, with client needs upgrading from simple personal finance to institutionalized family governance.

The report highlights that, benefiting from the strong performance of the semiconductor and AI supply chains, the scale of Taiwan’s high-net-worth population continues to expand. From 2021 to 2025, billion-level high-net-worth users increased by 4%, and those with assets of NT$1 billion or more grew by 7% during the same period.

By 2029, the high-net-worth client group with assets exceeding NT$100 million is expected to grow to 155,000 people. Notably, the growth momentum of the ultra-high-net-worth group with assets over NT$1 billion is even more significant, with an expected annual growth rate of 7%, surpassing the overall average. Their total personal wealth is projected to reach NT$59 trillion.

15% of high-net-worth users have over half of their assets allocated overseas, with a general reduction in holdings in the Chinese market

In the face of external uncertainties, geopolitical risks are viewed as the greatest external threat by high-net-worth clients. The survey shows that up to 74% of respondents hold overseas assets, with 15% having more than half of their assets allocated abroad.

In terms of market preferences, Singapore, with its stable political and economic environment and tax advantages, has become the most dynamic financial center in the Asia-Pacific region for increased holdings; the United States and Japan are also favored by investors. Conversely, high-net-worth clients generally adopt a cautious stance toward Chinese assets, with some even reducing their holdings.

Main reasons for adjusting asset allocation among high-net-worth users: Geopolitical factors

The report indicates that the core driver behind high-net-worth clients adjusting their asset allocations has clearly shifted from individual market performance to “external uncertainty,” with geopolitical risks being the most concerning. Up to 48% of respondents cited increased US policy uncertainty and escalating geopolitical conflicts as reasons for adjusting their assets, ranking first among all factors; followed by asset price volatility (44%), reflecting high sensitivity to short-term market fluctuations. Other factors include shifts in global monetary policy (38%) and AI development (31%).

In terms of actual strategies, the most common actions among high-net-worth groups are “outward migration” and “diversification.” About 33% of respondents increased overseas asset allocations within their Taiwan accounts, while 32% directly transferred assets abroad to reduce regional risks. Additionally, 29% increased holdings in major markets such as the US, Japan, and Europe; 25% increased stocks and equity products, indicating that diversification across markets and asset classes remains a mainstream defensive strategy.

Conversely, those adjusting only single-market allocations, not taking action, or making minor adjustments through structured products, private equity, real estate, and alternative assets account for around 10%. Overall, facing highly uncertain external environments, high-net-worth clients are no longer relying solely on tactical operations but are systematically reducing geopolitical and policy risks through cross-market, cross-currency, and cross-asset allocations.

Report reveals: High-net-worth clients’ investment in cryptocurrencies far exceeds Taiwan’s average

Fidelity International’s “2025 Asia-Pacific Investor Survey” shows that 24% of Taiwanese investors hold digital assets. Although this percentage is not high, it has doubled from 12% in 2024. However, this survey targets investors; if the denominator is expanded to the total population, industry rumors suggest the number of cryptocurrency holders is about 5%.

Image source: 2026 Taiwan Ultra-High-Net-Worth Client Wealth Insights Report

In comparison, among high-net-worth individuals, up to 29% hold cryptocurrencies. Of these, about 58% hold cryptocurrencies as experimental allocations, with holdings accounting for less than 1% of total assets. 5% of high-net-worth users have over 10% of their assets in cryptocurrencies, 14% have between 6-10%, and 16% have between 1-5%.

This article “China Trust 2026 Ultra-High-Net-Worth Client Report: Over 30% of Taiwan Billionaires Allocate Cryptocurrencies, Far Exceeding the Average” first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.