River: Fidelity, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley Back 1–5% Bitcoin Allocation

Bitcoin allocation is no longer a niche consideration. According to River, major financial institutions including Fidelity, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley are recommending that investors allocate roughly 1–5% of their portfolios to Bitcoin. The data also includes BlackRock and JPMorgan at more conservative ranges. Institutional adoption at this scale signals a clear shift in how Wall Street views Bitcoin as an asset class.

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How Bitcoin Allocation Gains Momentum as Major Banks Drive Institutional Adoption

Where Each Institution Stands on Bitcoin Allocation

River’s data shows Fidelity Bitcoin recommendations sitting near the top of the range at around 4%, with Bank of America Bitcoin guidance and Morgan Stanley Bitcoin recommendations clustered between 1% and 3%. BlackRock and JPMorgan are more conservative, staying closer to the 1% mark. River itself recommends going well beyond 5%, which sets it apart from the rest.

Why a 1–5% Bitcoin Allocation Makes Sense

The 1–5% range is deliberate. It gives investors real exposure to Bitcoin’s upside without putting the broader portfolio at risk if prices drop sharply. For a $500,000 portfolio, even a 2% Bitcoin allocation means $10,000 in an asset that has historically outperformed most traditional investments during bull cycles. Institutional adoption of this framework is also making it easier for advisors to recommend Bitcoin to clients through regulated products like spot ETFs.

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What This Means for Institutional Adoption Going Forward

The fact that firms managing trillions in assets are now recommending Bitcoin allocation in writing is significant. It pushes institutional adoption further into mainstream finance and also gives retail investors a level of validation that was harder to come by just a few years ago. The question for major banks has shifted from whether to recommend Bitcoin to simply how much.