Family Offices Bet Big on AI, Sideline Crypto and Gold: What JPMorgan’s 2026 Report Reveals
Artificial intelligence (AI) has surged to the top of the investment agenda for the world’s wealthiest families — but many are still on the sidelines when it comes to actually deploying capital where innovation is happening.
That’s the headline from J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s 2026 Global Family Office Report, a comprehensive survey of 333 single-family offices across 30 countries with an average net worth of approximately $1.6 billion. The findings paint a picture of enthusiasm tempered by caution — and a shift in how ultra-high-net-worth investors are thinking about technology, risk and diversification. (PR Newswire)
AI Tops the Priority List — But Execution Lags
According to JPMorgan’s survey, 65 % of family offices say artificial intelligence is a top or future investment theme. That puts AI ahead of other themes like healthcare innovation, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. (AdvisorHub)
Yet there’s a notable execution gap between talk and action:
- Most AI exposure today comes via public equities — mainly large-cap tech stocks — rather than direct investments in startup ecosystems where much AI innovation is happening. (AdvisorHub)
- More than 50 % of surveyed offices have no exposure to growth equity or venture capital, key vehicles for backing early-stage AI leaders. (AdvisorHub)
- Around 79 % report no allocations to infrastructure, despite the central role of data centers, semiconductors, power and networking in powering AI deployments. (AdvisorHub)
This portfolio paradox — big aspirations but limited direct bets — highlights an ongoing transition among traditional family offices as they balance risk tolerance with strategic ambition.
Crypto and Gold Nearly Disappear from Portfolios
Despite ongoing headlines about digital assets, crypto remains extremely unpopular with family offices:
- 89 % report zero exposure to cryptocurrencies, while the global average crypto allocation sits at roughly 0.4 % of portfolios (Bitcoin even lower at ~0.2 %). (Cointelegraph)
- Similarly, 72 % hold no gold, a traditional hedge against economic uncertainty typically favored in volatile markets. (Cryptonews)
This runs counter to broader institutional trends in some regions where digital assets are being integrated into hedge and risk management strategies — suggesting that the ultra-wealthy remain cautious amid volatility and valuation concerns.
Risk, Alternatives and the Wealth Migration Debate
The report also underscores macro shifts shaping family office thinking:
- Geopolitics ranks as the top risk concern globally, even as most portfolios remain underweight traditional hedges like gold and crypto. (PR Newswire)
- Inflation worries are pushing some families into alternative strategies such as hedge funds and real estate. (PR Newswire)
Commentators suggest this reflects a broader redefinition of risk: family offices appear more focused on missing the next growth cycle (like AI) than on conventional shock-absorption strategies. (Reddit)
Why This Matters for the Markets
What’s playing out among family offices has wider implications:
- Capital allocation decisions by ultra-wealthy investors can signal long-term trends in tech, venture and innovation — especially when aligned around a theme like AI.
- The hesitancy to invest in private markets or infrastructure suggests a structural lag that could create opportunities for boutique funds and emerging managers with strong AI pedigrees.
- The walk-toward public tech stocks instead of private innovation plays into broader market dynamics where valuation and liquidity preferences still reign supreme.
Glossary
- Family Office: A private wealth management entity that invests, manages and sometimes operates assets on behalf of a wealthy family.
- AI (Artificial Intelligence): Technology systems capable of performing tasks normally requiring human intelligence — such as learning, reasoning or pattern detection.
- Growth Equity: A type of private investment focusing on scaling companies that have established products or services but need capital to expand.
- Venture Capital: Investment in early-stage companies with high growth potential, often in technology or innovation sectors.
- Public Equities vs. Private Markets: Public equities are stocks traded on exchanges; private markets include venture capital and private company deals not publicly listed.
Source: https://www.techinasia.com/news/ai-leads-family-office-investment-priorities-jpmorgan
