$83 trillion in wealth is about to change hands, and the true underlying logic of the crypto market is coming to light.

Intergenerational wealth transfer is becoming one of the most underestimated long-term positives for cryptocurrencies. Zac Prince, head of banking at Galaxy Digital, recently pointed out that the current older generation holding most of the assets will eventually pass on massive wealth to the younger, more crypto-friendly generation. This process will serve as a significant catalyst for the widespread adoption of crypto assets. According to UBS’s 2025 Global Wealth Report, the total wealth in the United States is approximately $163 trillion, with the Baby Boomer generation holding assets worth up to $83.3 trillion, accounting for over half. This means that over the next ten to twenty years, an unprecedented intergenerational wealth transfer will occur globally. Crucially, the target group receiving this wealth is far more receptive to cryptocurrencies than current asset holders.

The Huge Difference in Intergenerational Investment Preferences

Data speaks volumes. According to the Q4 crypto market report released by mainstream CEXs, there are significant differences in crypto asset allocation between younger and older investors:

These are not small figures. When a quarter of young people already hold crypto assets, derivatives, or private assets, while only 8% of older investors do, it reflects a fundamental shift in investment philosophy. Prince emphasizes that the adoption of crypto assets is not driven by short-term price fluctuations but by long-term demographic and wealth distribution changes.

Institutions Are Already Preparing for Wealth Transfer

Interestingly, this is not just theoretical speculation. Market trends show that institutional capital is already positioning itself for this wealth transfer.

Infrastructure Development

According to the latest news, UK bank Barclays has invested in Ubyx, a US-based stablecoin settlement company. This marks Barclays’ first investment in a stablecoin-related enterprise. Ubyx, founded in 2025, aims to serve as a stablecoin clearing system, reconciling and settling stablecoins issued by different entities. Venture capital arms of Coinbase and Galaxy Digital have also invested in Ubyx. These moves indicate that traditional finance is preparing for a large influx of crypto assets by building the necessary infrastructure.

Specific Institutional Allocations

Galaxy Digital’s recent actions also reveal insights. On January 6, Galaxy Digital withdrew 292,000 UNI tokens (approximately $1.83 million) from Binance and transferred 492,500 UNI tokens (about $3 million) to CoinShares. Such large transfers and reallocation of tokens reflect institutions adjusting their crypto holdings and strategic allocations.

Historical data further illustrates the scale of institutional involvement. According to reports, on June 28, 2025, a $9 billion Bitcoin OTC trade was quietly completed between an early Bitcoin holder and an institutional investor. Remarkably, this astronomical transaction did not trigger panic selling; instead, Bitcoin’s price remained stable or even increased. This demonstrates that the market’s capacity to absorb large transfers has significantly improved, and institutional capital entering the space can smoothly handle even massive wealth shifts.

Changing Attitudes Among the Older Generation

It is noteworthy that the Baby Boomer generation’s attitude toward cryptocurrencies is gradually shifting. Multiple surveys indicate that interest in crypto among those over 60 is rising, with some countries seeing a doubling of crypto holdings among seniors over the past few years. This suggests that during the wealth transfer process, both the acceptance from recipients and the willingness of providers are increasing in tandem.

From a user experience perspective, younger generations’ familiarity with technology is also a key driver of crypto adoption. Today’s trading platforms emphasize instant transactions, multi-product integration, and intuitive interfaces— stark contrasts to traditional finance’s reliance on brokers and advisors— making them highly attractive to digital-native users.

Summary

Under the combined influence of intergenerational wealth transfer, changing technology usage habits, and evolving investment preferences, the mainstream integration of cryptocurrencies may not be a question of “if” but “when.” The $83.3 trillion wealth transfer, the threefold crypto holding ratio among young investors, and the infrastructure already being built by institutions are not short-term hype material but concrete evidence of long-term trends. The current Bitcoin price of $92,589 and a market cap of $1.85 trillion may just be the beginning of this long-term shift. The key point is that this is not driven by short-term events or policy expectations but by deep demographic and wealth flow changes— an inevitable outcome of structural transformation.