WisdomTree
crypto-6.jpg

From gold to crypto: applying the same trusted structure to a new asset class

Published 16 December 2025

Dovile Silenskyte
Dovile Silenskyte

Director, Digital Assets Research

Key Takeaways

  • Related Products WisdomTree Physical Bitcoin, WisdomTree Physical CoinDesk 20 Find out more

The definition of value continues to evolve, but the need for trust remains constant.

For over two decades, WisdomTree has helped investors access hard-to-reach markets through transparent, physically backed exchange-traded products (ETPs).

It started with gold, a timeless store of value that once anchored the global monetary system. Today, as the world transitions from physical to digital stores of value, we are applying the same trusted structure, governance, and transparency that underpinned our gold ETPs to the next frontier: digital assets.

From physical gold to digital value

When WisdomTree launched its first physically backed gold ETP in 2004, we redefined how investors could access a centuries-old asset.

Owning gold, once a logistical and storage challenge, became simple, transparent and scalable. Each product was fully backed by metal held in secure vaults, verified by independent custodians and made accessible through a regulated market structure.

Figure 1: Key milestones in WisdomTree’s evolution

key-milestones.png

That same logic now applies to crypto. Digital assets, from bitcoin to broad crypto baskets, represent a new way to transfer and store value.

Just as investors once sought a better way to hold gold without handling bars or relying on opaque intermediaries, they now seek a better way to hold crypto, without the operational and security complexities of self-custody.

A proven blueprint for digital assets

WisdomTree’s crypto ETP strategy is the next chapter in an over 20-year evolution of providing trusted access to alternative assets.

Every principle that defined our physical commodity ETPs now anchors our digital asset framework:

  • Physical backing: each crypto ETP is fully backed by the underlying digital asset, securely held in institutional-grade custody with rigorous safeguards.
  • Transparency: investors have full visibility into what underpins their investment, with daily coin entitlements published openly on WisdomTree’s website.
  • Accessibility: crypto ETPs trade with the same ease and efficiency as any other exchange-traded product or fund, offering seamless access through familiar market infrastructure.

By translating a proven ETP model from the physical to the digital, WisdomTree bridges traditional finance and the blockchain economy, bringing innovation without compromising trust.

Why trusted access matters

In crypto, not all access is created equal.

Investors face a fragmented landscape with offshore exchanges, unregulated venues and inconsistent custody standards. These environments introduce counterparty, operational and security risks that institutional investors cannot ignore.

WisdomTree’s physically backed crypto ETPs offer a transparent, institutional-grade alternative. Investors gain exposure to assets such as bitcoin and broad crypto baskets, while benefiting from the same governance, oversight and resilience that underpin our long-standing gold and commodity products.

With spot crypto ETPs gaining regulatory traction across major markets, demand for trusted, exchange-listed exposure is accelerating and this is where WisdomTree’s heritage matters most.

Together, these factors have set the stage for a broader market inflection, one where institutional adoption is finally meeting the infrastructure built for it.

The market is catching up

Institutional adoption of digital assets is no longer theoretical, it is accelerating.

According to Bloomberg and WisdomTree data (30 October 2025), physically backed crypto exchange-traded products now exceed $200 billion in assets under management, with more than $43 billion of inflows year-to-date.

This represents a structural shift: transparent, physically backed ETPs are becoming the preferred route for institutions seeking exposure to digital value.

Figure 2: Bitcoin remains the dominant allocation, followed by Ether and a growing universe of multi-asset and altcoin strategies.

bitcoin-remains-dominant-allocation.png

As the line between traditional and digital finance blurs, the importance of familiar, transparent wrappers only grows stronger, providing investors with continuity amid innovation.

A continuum of innovation

Gold and bitcoin share more than scarcity. Both exist outside traditional monetary systems, both are valued as stores of wealth, and both hedge against fiat debasement.

WisdomTree has helped investors access these stores of value responsibly, first in the physical world, now in the digital one too. Our journey from gold to crypto reflects a consistent vision: to make alternative assets investable and scalable.

As finance evolves, trust remains the constant and that is the foundation upon which WisdomTree continues to build.

About the contributor

Dovile Silenskyte
Dovile Silenskyte

Director, Digital Assets Research

Dovile Silenskyte is a director of digital assets research at WisdomTree. Before joining WisdomTree in May 2024, Dovile worked as an index equity product strategist at BlackRock. Currently, she is responsible for conducting analyses for in-house digital assets publications and assisting the sales team with client queries about products and markets. Dovile holds an MSc in Finance from Texas A&M University – Commerce, and she is also a chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Best Workspaces - GPTW UK 2024
Best Workspaces for Development - GPTW UK 2024
Best Workspaces for Women - GPTW UK 2024
Best Workspaces in Financial Services & Insurance - GPTW UK 2024
Important Risk Information

Jurisdictions in the European Economic Area (“EEA”): This website and its content has been provided by WisdomTree Ireland Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.


Jurisdictions outside of the EEA: This website and its content has been provided by WisdomTree UK Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority.

The price of any Shares or the value of an investment in ETPs may go up or down and an investor may not get back the amount invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product or to adopt any investment strategy.

Please click here for our full disclaimer.

© 2026 WisdomTree, Inc. All Rights Reserved