Bank of America (BofA) now allows its more than 15,000 wealth advisers to proactively recommend approved spot Bitcoin ETFs to eligible clients. This policy, which covers advisers across Merrill and the Bank of America Private Bank, took effect on January 5, 2026.
The change reverses the bank’s previous stance, which limited advisers to only responding to direct client inquiries regarding these products. BofA has approved four specific U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs for recommendation.
Advisers can now frame Bitcoin as a potential portfolio allocation of 1–4% for suitable clients, formally integrating digital assets into wealth management strategies. This new mandate is viewed as a potential catalyst for new demand in the Bitcoin ETF market, which has already seen significant inflows. Reports did not detail any specific market reaction for Bank of America’s stock.