Nexo says 67% of affluent investors own crypto but few make it central to wealth plans

  • Nexo says 67% of affluent investors own crypto, but integration stays low.
  • Security, fees and platform complexity emerge as key barriers to adoption.
  • US investors show deepest crypto integration despite lower ownership rates.

High-net-worth investors are increasingly buying crypto, but many are still reluctant to make it a major part of their long-term wealth plans, according to a new Nexo survey.

The report found that 67% of affluent investors across the US, UK and Argentina already own crypto. However, security concerns, high fees and complicated platforms are stopping many from using digital assets for retirement planning or replacing traditional investments.

Nexo published its “Future of Digital Wealth 2026” report on September 23 after surveying 1,000 affluent investors. Its new Crypto Integration Index, which measures how deeply crypto is incorporated into investors’ finances, produced an average score of 4.83 out of 10.

Ownership outpaces deeper integration

Nexo said a score near the survey average of 4.83 represents a small, short-horizon crypto position outside retirement planning.

Only 4.7% of surveyed investors scored seven or higher, a level Nexo describes as structurally integrated, where crypto has replaced a traditional asset and forms part of longer-term financial planning.

The report found that just under 20% of respondents expect crypto to become their number-one personal wealth driver over the next decade, ahead of salary, equities and real estate.

More than 40% are already invested in crypto without yet building wealth with it.

“Once an investor gets past the risk perception stage, what’s left is security, fees, and platform user-friendliness and capabilities – the same things we’ve spent years building Nexo to solve,” said Neil Steinhardt, COO, Nexo US.

That’s the gap between owning crypto and actually building wealth with it, and it’s exactly where our platform is designed to meet investors.

Integration also varies by market. Argentina had the highest ownership rate at 74%, but a CII score of 4.62. The US had the lowest ownership at 62%, but the deepest integration with a score of 5.07.

The UK recorded 65% ownership and a CII score of 4.75.

Platform trust becomes the next hurdle

The report said crypto integration peaks among investors aged 35 to 44, with 28% treating digital assets as a core retirement asset.

Investors aged 18 to 25 reported the highest ownership and conviction, with more than 90% holding crypto, but only 2% maintaining a horizon of 10 years or longer.

Among structurally integrated investors with CII scores of seven or more, reported frictions shift towards platform trust. Security concerns were cited by 36%, high fees by 34%, and platform complexity by 28%.

“Risk perception used to be the story in every crypto adoption survey. It isn’t anymore,” said Iliya Kalchev, analyst at Nexo.

In our data, risk perception barely separates investors who’ve built real wealth with crypto from those who haven’t — what actually divides them is whether they’ve substituted crypto for a traditional asset and folded it into retirement planning. For affluent investors it’s the planning and the smoothness of operating with that crypto that remains to be resolved.

The survey was fielded in February and March 2026 through Attest. Respondents needed at least $100,000 in liquid assets in the US and UK, or $40,000 in Argentina, thresholds calibrated to capture the top 25% to 30% of each market by investable wealth.

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Zcash holds above $1,600 as shielded activity and fund inflows surge

Key takeaways

  • Zcash remains above $1,600 after gaining 10% during the previous session.
  • Weekly shielded transactions reached 62,379, their highest level since 2022.
  • The newer Ironwood pool accounted for 55,549 of the shielded transactions recorded last week.
  • A confirmed breakout above $1,700 could put the $2,000 psychological level in focus, while $1,595 is the nearest support.

Zcash (ZEC) continued its rally on Wednesday, trading around $1,619 after gaining 7.5% during the previous session. 

Rising use of the network’s privacy features and stronger demand for regulated ZEC investment products are supporting the token’s positive price action.

The privacy-focused cryptocurrency is also approaching the upper boundary of a bullish channel near $1,700. 

Momentum indicators remain constructive without showing excessively overbought conditions, allowing buyers to attempt another breakout.

A decisive move above $1,700 could carry ZEC into price discovery and bring the $2,000 psychological threshold into view. 

Failure to clear the resistance, however, could trigger a retreat toward support around $1,595 or the $1,422–$1,424 region.

Zcash Shielded activity reaches four-year high

Zcash’s latest rally has coincided with increased use of its shielded transaction system, which allows users to conceal certain transaction details.

Data from Blockworks shows that the network processed 62,379 shielded transactions last week. That was the highest weekly total recorded in four years, suggesting that demand for Zcash’s privacy functionality is increasing alongside its price.

The Ironwood pool accounted for 55,549 of those transactions, representing approximately 89% of the weekly total. The concentration of activity in the newer pool indicates that users are increasingly adopting the latest version of Zcash’s shielded infrastructure.

Unlike transparent blockchain transactions, shielded transfers can use cryptographic proofs to verify that a transaction is valid without publicly exposing all of its underlying information. This functionality is central to Zcash’s value proposition as a privacy-oriented network.

Increasing shielded activity may provide a stronger fundamental basis for ZEC’s rally because it suggests that network usage is rising rather than the price move being driven entirely by speculation.

One strong week does not establish a sustained adoption trend, however. Shielded transaction volumes will need to remain elevated over a longer period to demonstrate that the increase represents a durable change in user behavior.

Institutional investment products have provided another source of support for Zcash. Grayscale’s ZEC-focused product recorded $32.81 million in inflows on Tuesday, according to SoSoValue data. The inflow lifted the product’s net assets under management to approximately $979.48 million.

The sizeable daily increase indicates growing investor demand for ZEC exposure through a regulated investment vehicle. Such products allow investors to follow the token’s performance without independently purchasing, storing, and securing it.

Zcash has also gained additional institutional exposure in Europe. 21Shares recently launched a ZEC-focused exchange-traded product on Euronext, expanding the range of regulated channels through which investors can access the privacy token.

The combination of inflows into Grayscale’s product and the availability of the new 21Shares ETP points to improving institutional confidence. Continued inflows could reduce the amount of ZEC circulating freely in the market and support prices if demand remains strong.

Nevertheless, investment-product flows can reverse quickly. Traders will need to determine whether Tuesday’s inflow marks the beginning of a sustained trend or reflects a temporary response to ZEC’s recent price performance.

Zcash approaches $1,700 channel resistance

Zcash was trading around $1,619 on Wednesday, maintaining its bullish short-term structure.

On the four-hour chart, ZEC remains comfortably above its major exponential moving averages. The 50-period EMA stands near $1,424, the 100-period EMA is around $1,295, and the 200-period EMA sits at approximately $1,108.

Trading above all three averages shows that buyers remain in control across multiple short-term time frames. Their bullish alignment also provides several potential layers of support if the token experiences a pullback.

ZEC is now approaching a descending resistance line connecting the August 23 and September 19 highs. That barrier is situated near $1,700.

Meanwhile, a rising trendline connecting the September 2 and September 16 lows forms the lower boundary of a bullish channel. The structure indicates that buyers have repeatedly entered the market at progressively higher prices.

A confirmed breakout above the channel resistance could strengthen the rally and push ZEC into price-discovery territory. Under that scenario, the next notable target would be the round-number level at $2,000, representing a potential gain of roughly 25% from $1,600.

A breakout should ideally be supported by increasing trading volume and a sustained close above $1,700. A brief move beyond the resistance followed by a rapid reversal could instead signal a failed breakout.

Zcash’s momentum indicators continue to support the bullish outlook. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator remains in positive territory and has crossed above its signal line. The crossover suggests that upward momentum is strengthening as ZEC tests the upper boundary of its channel.

ZEC/USD Daily Chart

The Relative Strength Index stands near 63. The reading is above the neutral midpoint of 50 but below the conventional overbought level of 70, indicating strong momentum without suggesting that the rally is excessively stretched.

If ZEC fails to overcome $1,700, its first support sits near $1,595, corresponding with the September 19 high. Holding that former resistance as support would keep the immediate breakout thesis intact.

Below $1,595, the next important area lies between $1,422 and $1,424. That zone combines the September 18 low with the four-hour chart’s 50-period EMA, making it a stronger potential support region during a deeper correction.

For now, rising shielded usage, institutional inflows, and constructive technical signals support the upside bias. The next decisive test is whether buyers can convert the $1,700 resistance into support and extend the rally toward $2,000.

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Getting Monero without an exchange account in 2026

  • Several large exchanges removed Monero from 2024 onward, some everywhere and some for part of their users.
  • Three routes remain: a swap from another coin, a direct trade with a person, and mining.
  • Monero protects what is written on its chain, but timing and IP data sit outside it.

Monero (XMR) has become harder to find on large trading platforms.

Since early 2024, several big exchanges have removed it, some for all users and some for part of their user base.

For many holders, the practical question is now how to get Monero without an exchange account, and what that route asks of them.

This article looks at the routes that remain, the wallet to set up first, and the checks that matter during a swap.

For a full walkthrough, a step-by-step guide from HiddenSwap shows how to get Monero without KYC with a wallet and a single swap.

Key points

  • Several large exchanges removed Monero from 2024 onward, some everywhere and some for part of their users.
  • Three routes remain: a swap from another coin, a direct trade with a person, and mining.
  • A wallet you control comes first, because every route pays out to an address.
  • A swap turns coins you already have into XMR without creating an account.
  • Monero protects what is written on its chain, but timing and IP data sit outside it.

Why fewer exchange accounts offer Monero

The removals came in steps. In January 2024, one large exchange delisted XMR, stating that the coin no longer fit its listing standards.

The next month, a second big platform ended XMR trading after reviewing which assets it would keep.

In late October 2024, a third halted XMR trading and deposits for a group of its customers.

The announcements pointed to listing criteria and asset reviews. Monero’s design is part of the picture too.

An exchange cannot read the history of XMR on the chain the way it can with Bitcoin, because Monero keeps that data private by design.

None of this changed how the network itself works.

XMR kept in a private wallet is not affected, and the chain runs as before. What changed is where people can get XMR.

Routes that remain for Monero without an exchange account

Three routes are left. The first is a swap, where you send a coin you already have, such as Bitcoin or Tether, and receive XMR at your own address.

The second is a peer-to-peer trade with another person. The third is mining, which pays new XMR in return for computing work.

Each route has a cost. A direct trade depends on trust in the other side, and scams are common where no escrow protects the deal.

Mining needs hardware and electricity, and it pays out in small amounts over time.

For most people who already own some crypto, a swap is the shortest path.

HiddenSwap (hiddenswap.com) is a no KYC crypto exchange for crypto-to-crypto swaps: no account, no email, and no ID are needed to swap.

The user gives a receiving address, sends the deposit, and gets XMR in a wallet they control.

Set up a Monero wallet first

Every route ends with coins sent to an address, so the wallet comes first.

The Monero project publishes an official wallet in two versions: a graphical app (GUI) and a command-line tool (CLI). Both are free and open source, and both are available on getmonero.org.

A new wallet shows a seed phrase when it is created. Write it down offline and never share it.

Anyone who has the seed controls the coins, and no honest swap service will ever ask for it.

The wallet then needs to sync with the network before it can show incoming coins.

Running your own node gives the most privacy. A remote node is quicker to start with, but its operator can see your IP address unless you connect through Tor.

Swapping another coin into XMR

A swap needs the coin you send and its network, the amount, and your XMR address.

An address for refunds, on the network of the coin you send, is optional.

It protects you if the swap cannot finish, which matters most when you send from a platform account.

Copy the XMR address your wallet shows under Receive, then look at the pasted text once more before you continue.

A new subaddress for each swap keeps your payouts separate from each other.

Send the exact amount in one transaction, on the network the order page names.

After the XMR arrives, it cannot be spent until 10 more blocks have been added, which takes about 20 minutes.

That lock is a Monero network rule, not a delay added by the swap service.

What Monero protects, and where metadata leaks

By default, Monero hides the amount, the sender, and the receiver of every payment.

Ring signatures blur which coin was spent, one-time addresses separate each payment from the public address, and RingCT hides the amount.

The project explains each of these on getmonero.org.

Metadata is a different layer. The point where coins enter from a public chain, the timing of payments and your IP address can still show patterns.

A wallet that connects over Tor and a fresh subaddress for each payment reduce what others can link.

The coin you send into a swap also keeps its own record.

A Bitcoin deposit stays visible on the Bitcoin chain. Only the Monero side of the swap gets Monero’s protections.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Monero if I have no crypto yet?

A swap needs coins to send, so it only helps people who already have some crypto. Without any, the options are mining or a direct trade with another person. Both take more time and more care.

Which coins can be swapped into XMR?

Common choices are Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ether and Tether. HiddenSwap lists more than 1,000 coins and networks. Always send on the network the order page shows.

When can I spend the XMR I receive?

The deposit first needs confirmations on its own network. After the payout arrives, Monero locks the new coins for 10 blocks. Then they can be spent like any other XMR.

A wallet you control and one careful swap are all you need to get started with Monero without an exchange account today.

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XRP jumps 8% as crypto short squeeze and Ripple developments draw attention

Key takeaways

  • XRP rose more than 8% in 24 hours as the broader crypto market rallied.
  • Its trading volume increased 55% to approximately $4.7 billion.
  • Crypto-wide short liquidations reached about $665 million; that figure is not specific to XRP.

XRP outpaces major cryptocurrencies

XRP gained more than 8% over 24 hours amid a broad cryptocurrency rally. Trading volume rose 55% to approximately $4.7 billion, equivalent to about 5% of XRP’s circulating market value.

The higher volume shows that trading activity increased alongside the price. It does not, by itself, establish how much of that activity came from new buyers rather than sellers closing positions.

A wider short squeeze may have contributed to the move. Across the crypto market, short liquidations climbed to approximately $665 million, according to the figures cited in the report. Liquidations force some traders betting on falling prices to close their positions, which can amplify a rally.

XRP’s gains also come as Ripple continues to expand its payments business and develop uses for the XRP Ledger.

The report points to a newly released developer kit for building AI agents that can make payments using the ledger and Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. It also describes Stripe as potential supporting infrastructure for that use case. The scale of any resulting payment activity remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, two XRP Ledger proposals under consideration could help establish a framework for lending that uses XRP as collateral and RLUSD for settlement. Their eventual effect depends on approval, implementation and adoption.

RLUSD’s market capitalization was near $2.4 billion in the figures cited by the report. Growth in the stablecoin may increase activity in Ripple’s ecosystem, though it does not guarantee a corresponding rise in XRP’s price.

XRP faces $1.50 breakout test

The technical analysis in the report identifies a breakout from a descending flag pattern on XRP’s daily chart. 

The next test is $1.50: a sustained move above that level would strengthen the case for a rise toward $1.80.

XRP/USD Daily Chart

The analyst also projects a medium-term target of $2.10 based on the pattern’s measured move, implying roughly 41% upside from the price used in that forecast.

Those targets remain conditional. After a sharp rally and substantial short liquidations, XRP will need continued buying interest to hold its breakout and advance through $1.50.

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Avalanche price eyes 90% rally as tokenization demand lifts AVAX

Key takeaways

  • AVAX surged nearly 50% in one week, reaching an eight-month high of $10.82 on Sunday.
  • Institutional tokenization developments involving ICE, New York Life Investment Management, Aave and Janus Henderson have boosted sentiment.
  • Avalanche’s Helicon upgrade is scheduled for Sept. 22 and will reduce the minimum staking period from 14 days to 48 hours.

Avalanche’s AVAX token has climbed nearly 50% over the past week, reaching an eight-month high of $10.82 on Sunday as institutional tokenization developments renewed demand for the cryptocurrency.

One of the rally’s leading catalysts involves Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. ICE has reportedly spent about a year testing Avalanche as it explores infrastructure for round-the-clock trading of tokenized U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds.

ICE has not selected Avalanche or announced a commercial partnership. However, Ava Labs President Charley Cooper said the company remains actively engaged with the network.

The development has strengthened expectations that Avalanche could play a role in bringing traditional financial assets onchain.

New York Life plans tokenized fund on Avalanche

New York Life Investment Management provided another institutional catalyst by announcing plans to launch its first tokenized fund on Avalanche through Centrifuge.

The offering will bring the firm’s U.S. High Yield Corporate Bond Strategy onchain, giving eligible investors access to exposure tied to high-yield corporate debt.

Other financial companies are also expanding their involvement with Avalanche. Aave is developing an institutional real-world asset lending market on the network, while Paxos has added support for AVAX and USDC.

Asset manager Janus Henderson has also joined Avalanche as a validator, further strengthening the network’s institutional credentials.

Together, these developments reinforce Avalanche’s positioning as a blockchain for tokenized funds, credit products and other real-world assets.

Avalanche’s upcoming Helicon upgrade provides an additional potential catalyst for AVAX.

Scheduled for Sept. 22, the upgrade will reduce the minimum staking lockup period from 14 days to 48 hours. The change could make staking more flexible by allowing participants to commit their tokens for substantially shorter periods.

Helicon will also modify validator requirements and reward structures. Lowering the time commitment may encourage more users to participate in network validation, although the full impact will depend on how validators respond to the revised economics.

The timing of the upgrade, alongside growing institutional interest, has added momentum to AVAX’s recovery.

Falling wedge points to $19–$20 target

AVAX’s weekly chart is showing a potential long-term recovery setup after the price rebounded from the lower boundary of a large falling wedge that has developed since its 2021 peak.

Falling wedges are generally viewed as bullish reversal patterns when the price rebounds from the lower trendline and eventually breaks above descending resistance.

The latest recovery started around the $5.80–$6.50 region, a historical support zone that has repeatedly attracted buyers. AVAX subsequently climbed above its 20-week Exponential Moving Average near $7.97, strengthening the case for a broader recovery within the wedge.

If the rebound continues, the next major upside target lies between $19 and $20. The wedge’s descending upper trendline is converging in this area with the 0.236 Fibonacci retracement level near $19.86.

A move from approximately $10.50 to that resistance zone would produce an estimated gain of 85%–90%.

Before AVAX can approach $19, it must overcome resistance around its 50-week EMA. A rejection from this moving average could slow the recovery or send the token back toward lower support levels.

AVAX/USD Daily Chart

The broader bullish setup would weaken if AVAX loses the wedge’s lower trendline and falls decisively below $5.80. That level currently serves as the primary invalidation point for the recovery thesis.

AVAX’s outlook therefore remains constructive while it holds above the reclaimed 20-week EMA and maintains the wedge’s lower support. 

However, the projected move toward $19–$20 remains conditional on the token clearing intermediate resistance and sustaining institutional-driven demand.

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