From Crypto Riches to Long-Term Wealth: The Case for Diversification

By Amanda Ong With Bitcoin up more than 40% year-to-date,1 it's no surprise that the number of crypto millionaires has surged, climbing from 88,000 in 2023 to over 172 300 as reported by Henley & Partners in 2024. This strong performance has created a wave of ‛new money’, but it’s crucial to remember that cryptocurrencies remain one of the most volatile asset classes. To put this into perspective, Bitcoin’s volatility is 3.9 and 4.6 times that of gold and global equities, respectively.      For these newly minted millionaires, the challenge now is not just about holding onto their wealth but growing it sustainably. Diversifying into traditional and alternative investments, which are largely uncorrelated with cryptocurrencies, can provide a decent hedge against the unpredictable nature of crypto The role of traditional investments Traditional asset classes such as equities and bonds offer a reliable foundation for long-term wealth. These investments provide steady income and capital…

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Cryptocurrency Taxes: How They Work and What Gets Taxed

As cryptocurrencies continue to revolutionize the world of finance, the world of tax tries to keep up. When something is virtual, it is much more difficult to work out where it exists for tax purposes, but at the same time, while in some respects ‘this time it’s different’, the general principles that apply to all other assets can equally apply to crypto. So, to a certain extent, the answer to ‘which countries are the most tax friendly for crypto?’ is ‘those that are most welcoming to investors generally’, as opposed to uniquely favoring digital asset investors. How money gets made in crypto Let’s start with a summary of the three main ways money can be made in crypto. Firstly, there is mining, the process whereby investors create currencies through computing power. Under most country tax systems, this equates to carrying on a trade with a view to making a profit…

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The Same, but Different: Strategic Estate and Wealth Planning for Crypto

Matt Since it was first released in January 2009, bitcoin — the digital currency associated with the Bitcoin network — has evolved from an unknown digital asset with no users and no marketable value to one with a global market capitalization exceeding USD 1 trillion. The per-unit price of bitcoin continues to fluctuate dramatically, but since January 2024 has dipped below USD 40,000 only once. At the time of writing, bitcoin is trending in the low-to mid-USD 60,000 range, representing over 43% growth in the asset’s value year to date.1 Of course, by the time this article is published, the price of bitcoin might well have varied by 20% or more in either direction. Or both. The economic success of bitcoin and the broader crypto market have contributed to a new generation of highly affluent individuals and families. As New World Wealth Report 2024 reveals, at 30 June 2024, at least 172,300…

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How Singapore Became a Crypto Industry Titan

Singapore’s journey from a humble maritime outpost to a global financial powerhouse is well documented. Since gaining independence in 1965, the city-state rapidly industrialized, with GDP growth topping 9.2% in the first 25 years. This remarkable development has continued, with Singapore now ranking #1 on the World Bank’s Human Capital Index, which measures the human capital that a child born today can achieve by age 18. While the island nation’s economic success story is widely known, less explored is its latest metamorphosis into a crypto and blockchain hub — a transformation as swift and ambitious as its rise from colonial outpost to economic titan. This pivot has earned Singapore the top spot in Harley and Associates Crypto Adoption Index 2024, further cementing its status as a global financial innovator. The Lion City roars digital Singapore’s crypto story begins not with Bitcoin, but with the foresight of leaders who recognized the transformative potential of technology…

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Popular Residence Options for Crypto Investors

In many circles, it is presupposed that investors are trying to avoid as much tax as possible on the crypto wealth they’ve amassed or the crypto trading they do to generate a livelihood. And that, in turn, raises lots of eyebrows globally because it makes crypto seem like an investment focused on tax evasion. And that’s a very myopic view. The reality is that countries all over the world — some aggressively — are touting their local tax regimes that tread lightly on crypto profits and crypto trading. By my count, at least 21 countries impose a 0% tax rate on crypto. Others offer relatively low crypto taxation, such as Cyprus, with a 12.5% tax on crypto profits, or Montenegro (soon to join the European Union and where Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently gained citizenship), with its 9% tax rate on crypto. As such, the question that guy in Dubai…

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How Crypto Is Revolutionizing Finance

By Dr. Niklas J Decentralized finance (DeFi) refers to the provision of traditional financial services without the involvement of centralized players such as banks and insurance companies. Instead, DeFi uses smart contracts: computer programs running on decentralized blockchains. Unlike human actors, who might occasionally make errors, smart contracts will always work the way they have been programmed to do. While this might sound strange to those who are not well-versed in crypto, the potential for disruption in this area is significant. A few years ago, The Economist stated that DeFi has the potential to completely rewire how the financial system works. I absolutely agree and hope to persuade you, too. DeFi’s numerous advantages Compared to traditional financial services, DeFi offers multiple advantages. Firstly, access to DeFi is in general given on a pseudonymous basis, without a user having to comply with onerous Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements and without having to fill…

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Blockchain Revolution: Transforming Private Wealth Management

The financial landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as blockchain technology disrupts traditional paradigms. Private wealth management, long considered a bastion of stability and conservatism, is at the brink of a revolutionary transformation. Blockchain, with its promise of enhanced transparency, security, and efficiency, is reshaping how wealth managers operate and how high-net-worth individuals manage their assets. Blockchain is a decentralized ledger that records transactions across multiple nodes in a way that ensures the data is secure, transparent, and immutable. Each block contains a list of transactions, and once a block is completed, it is added to the chain in a linear, chronological order. This structure makes blockchain inherently resistant to modification, providing a high level of security and trust. For private wealth management, the implications of this technology are profound. The traditional model, which relies on intermediaries and central authority, is being challenged by blockchain’s decentralized approach. Enhanced security and transparency One of the primary advantages…

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The Ultimate Portfolio of Passports for Centi-Millionaires

Centi-Millionaires. In an era of unprecedented uncertainty, the importance of building a strategic portfolio of complementary residence permits and citizenships that provide you with personal access rights to a wide range of different jurisdictions has never been more evident for centi-millionaires. This approach is not merely about enhancing global mobility through seamless visa-free travel but about creating a robust safeguard that protects wealth, lifestyle, and legacy. By acquiring a diversified combination of residences and citizenships, the ultra-wealthy can effectively mitigate a wide array of geopolitical and other risks, while accessing new opportunities for themselves and their families. This level of optionality enables them to live, study, conduct business, and even retire in virtually any part of the world. In today’s interconnected global landscape, citizenship diversification has evolved into a crucial strategy for those seeking to future-proof their wealth, secure their legacy, and ensure their family’s prosperity across generations. The practice, once a niche…

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The Centi-Millionaire Report 2024

A unique publication for followers of private wealth and investment migration trends, featuring the growing elite cohort of centi-millionaires who are redefining super-wealth in the 21st century. With exclusive stats from New World Wealth, including the Top 50 Cities for Centi-Millionaires and cities to watch, and fascinating expert insights. Top 50 Cities for Centi-Millionaires CityCountryCenti-Millionaires(USD 100m+)Centi-Millionaire Growth Forecast %(2024 to 2040)New York CityUSA744The Bay AreaUSA675Los AngelesUSA496LondonUK370BeijingChina347SingaporeSingapore336ShanghaiChina322Hong KongHong Kong (SAR China)320ChicagoUSA290ParisFrance286TokyoJapan267HoustonUSA258Geneva (canton)Switzerland244MumbaiIndia236DubaiUAE212MoscowRussian Federation207SydneyAustralia205Zurich (canton)Switzerland205TorontoCanada195SeoulSouth Korea195MonacoMonaco185MilanItaly165MiamiUSA164FrankfurtGermany155ShenzhenChina154SeattleUSA130DallasUSA125DelhiIndia123Greenwich and DarienUSA120MelbourneAustralia112BostonUSA107HangzhouChina102Nice to ÈzeFrance95RomeItaly92AustinUSA92AmsterdamNetherlands91Washington, D.C.USA88MunichGermany85TaipeiTaiwan (Chinese Taipei)82Tel AvivIsrael82Luxembourg CityLuxembourg82VancouverCanada80San DiegoUSA75MadridSpain74ViennaAustria70GuangzhouChina70Las VegasUSA70OsakaJapan69Palm Beach and West Palm BeachUSA69Abu DhabiUAE68 Notes 'Centi-millionaires' refers to individuals with liquid investable wealth of USD 100 million or more. Only includes individuals living in each city (residents). Figures for December 2023. Source: New World Wealth:

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Crypto Wealth and Global Citizenship

Crypto Wealth and Global Citizenship. The cryptocurrency landscape of 2024 bears little resemblance to its predecessors. Bitcoin’s rise to over USD 73,000 in March set a new all-time high, while the long-awaited approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in the USA unleashed a torrent of institutional capital. Anticipation now builds for potential Solana ETFs joining the Wall Street party. These milestones have seeded a new era of crypto adoption, one where digital assets increasingly cross-pollinate with traditional finance and global mobility. A sizeable crypto elite emerges As cryptocurrencies cement their place in the financial zeitgeist, a new class of high-net-worth individuals has emerged. New World Wealth data paints a striking picture: crypto millionaires surged by 95% in just one year, with 172,300 individuals now holding over USD 1 million in digital assets. The echelons of crypto wealth have expanded dramatically, with centi-millionaires growing by 79% to 325, and even…

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