Fintech App Wealthfront Will Offer Direct Crypto Investing Later This Year

The fintech robo-adviser will likely allow customers to invest as much as 20% of their portfolios in crypto, said Wealthfront Chief Strategy Officer Dan Carroll.

AccessTimeIconApr 28, 2021 at 3:13 p.m. UTC
Updated May 9, 2023 at 3:18 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

California-based investment app Wealthfront is offering cryptocurrency to its clients later in 2021 as it rides new retail interest in digital assets like bitcoin and ether.

The announcement was part of a broader shift the company revealed on Wednesday where it would allow users to customize their portfolios. Prior to this, Wealthfront would choose a portfolio to fit the customer’s risk profile. 

  • Star Trek Star William Shatner Hasn't Invested in Crypto, Here's Why
    01:27
    Star Trek Star William Shatner Hasn't Invested in Crypto, Here's Why
  • Umee CEO on DeFi Outlook Amid Rising Inflation
    07:00
    Umee CEO on DeFi Outlook Amid Rising Inflation
  • Investors ‘Still Engaged’ Despite Recent Market Turbulence, Gemini Exec Says
    00:42
    Investors ‘Still Engaged’ Despite Recent Market Turbulence, Gemini Exec Says
  • OpenNode Exec on Partnership With Stripe to Allow Bitcoin Conversion Payments
    04:18
    OpenNode Exec on Partnership With Stripe to Allow Bitcoin Conversion Payments
  • Still, Wealthfront Chief Strategy Officer Dan Carroll said crypto exposure in any given account would be limited to "likely no more than 20%."

    “People can go to Coinbase or go to Robinhood if they want to gamble, but we think Wealthfront can become the place to invest responsibly in crypto as part of a diversified portfolio,” said Carroll.

    The fintech firm decided to get into crypto after seeing interest from Wealthfront clients and crypto exposure in those clients’ outside brokerage accounts, Carroll added.

    The company has allowed users to link their Coinbase accounts since 2018 but only began thinking about adding a cryptocurrency offering directly to customer portfolios in the last year, Carroll added.

    Wealthfront is one of many fintechs to announce intentions to offer crypto services. Robinhood reported 9.5 million customers traded crypto in Q1 2021 with the Robinhood Crypto team more than tripling this year. In October, PayPal announced it would offer a highly custodial crypto product with a broader set of crypto ambitions down the road.

    PayPal uses Paxos as its crypto back-end provider. Wealthfront did not disclose which firm it's using for crypto custody.

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.



    Read more about