Bank of America (BofA) has for the first time recommended that its wealth management clients allocate 1%–4% of their assets to cryptocurrencies. The recommendation applies to Merrill, Private Bank, and Merrill Edge, and will officially take effect on January 5, 2026—covering these services and providing research support for four Bitcoin ETFs: BITB, FBTC, Grayscale Mini Trust, and IBIT.  

Previously, BofA advisors were prohibited from proactively recommending crypto products. Now, approximately 15,000 wealth advisors can directly advise clients on crypto allocations, marking the bank’s formal integration of crypto assets into its mainstream asset allocation system.