Grayscale’s Brooke Stoddard highlights a pivotal shift: major U.S. wealth management firms are increasingly enabling advisors and clients to invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. This marks a significant step towards mainstream adoption of crypto assets.
Since its inception over a decade ago, Grayscale Investments has been a leader in introducing cryptocurrency to mainstream investors. With a portfolio exceeding 40 products and escalating demand for officially sanctioned digital asset investment options, the company is now at the heart of a profound transformation in wealth management.
Brooke Stoddard, the Head of Wealth Management Platforms and Due Diligence at Grayscale, collaborates directly with both advisors and institutions. He emphasizes that the core mission of the company remains constant: delivering access to digital assets in a way that instills trust within the financial professional community.
“Grayscale has operated continuously since 2013, building a solid 12-year history of helping investors participate in the rapidly expanding digital currency asset class,” Stoddard explained to InvestmentNews at Future Proof Festival 2025. “We currently offer 40 distinct products on our platform… Recently, we’ve observed a noticeable surge in demand for our product offerings, notably including Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs, emanating from both financial advisors and their clientele.”
Regulatory Clarity Fuels Rising Interest
A significant portion of this recent expansion, Stoddard suggests, stems from enhanced assurance attributable to regulatory authorities and governmental policies. “Part of it is undoubtedly driven by regulatory clarity,” he stated. “The Genius Act, enacted in July, provides considerable support and boosts confidence among wealth management platforms. It signals that there’s essentially government and regulatory endorsement for cryptocurrencies of this nature, empowering them to confidently conduct due diligence on Ethereum ETPs and Bitcoin ETPs, making them accessible to clients who wish to invest.”
Stoddard perceives this evolving landscape as reminiscent of prior epochs of financial innovation. “The emergence of ETFs two decades prior… furnishes a compelling analogy. The initial S&P 500 ETF materialized in the 1990s; advisors were hearing of its existence, but lacked a comprehensive understanding. This scenario bears considerable resemblance to the circumstances surrounding crypto today.”
Grayscale maintains vigilant surveillance of regulatory trends, particularly those impacting ETFs. “The SEC has clearly indicated its support for the crypto space,” Stoddard observes. “While that has numerous implications, it implies a greater likelihood of embracing diverse ETF models, thereby opening opportunities for entities such as ours to integrate novel cryptocurrencies into ETF structures. History shows that ETFs are incredibly popular vehicles for accessing various asset categories.”
Ultimately, Stoddard posits that the industry is at a crucial juncture as wealth management platforms initiate the incorporation of digital asset products. “A particularly exciting development is the increasing willingness of major wealth management platforms in the US to allow their advisors and customers access to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs for the very first time,” he mentioned. “In the past, within the last six, twelve, or even eighteen months, access might have been restricted. However, we’re now seeing them approach us, seeking to conduct thorough due diligence on these products.”
Education as a Cornerstone
Grayscale emphasizes education as a primary pillar, offering a wealth of research and information resources. “We prioritize education, and advisors engage with us because they’re hearing about crypto,” Stoddard stated. “They’re receiving queries on the subject, and require educational material. We feature an extensive collection of research and Bitcoin and Ethereum introductory guides to help them deepen their comprehension of these assets.”
The inquiries that advisors pose to Grayscale encompass a broad spectrum. “At times, they need in-depth data on the technology underpinning Bitcoin or Ethereum. In other cases, they wish to analyze quantifiable metrics of crypto, such as the volatility of Bitcoin or Ethereum relative to traditional assets,” Stoddard noted.
Cryptocurrency interest spans all age brackets and wealth levels. Stoddard clarified that, although one might assume younger advisors working with the upcoming generation of clients are the primary audience, “the accurate observation is that we handle queries from every type of advisor and client. Although younger clients and their advisors may have been early adopters, wealthier, and potentially older, clients are asking us the same volume of questions.”
Reaching a Tipping Point
For Grayscale, the prospect lies as much in scale as in pioneering advancements. “The U.S. wealth category, encompassing funds managed by these large platforms, is valued at approximately $30 trillion,” Stoddard shared.
“My aim here [at Grayscale] is to facilitate these platforms and advisors, in a judicious, regulated, and education-centric manner, access to the leading Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.”