Wharton Cryptocurrency Report Locked Behind Paywall as Institutional Interest in Digital Assets Grows

The Wharton School has released its Consumer Cryptocurrency Confidence Report 2025, but the findings remain inaccessible to the public behind password protection, an unusual move for an academic institution that typically publishes research openly through its Knowledge at Wharton platform.

The report's release comes as corporate finance leaders grapple with mounting pressure to develop cryptocurrency strategies, whether for treasury management, payment systems, or balance sheet considerations. The timing is notable—Wharton's decision to restrict access to consumer sentiment data on digital assets arrives at a moment when CFOs are being asked by boards and investors to articulate clear positions on cryptocurrency exposure.

Knowledge at Wharton, the business journal of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, published a placeholder for the report on its website but requires a password to view the actual content. The platform, which typically offers free access to faculty research and business insights, provides no indication of how to obtain credentials or whether the report will eventually become publicly available.

The restricted access raises questions about the report's intended audience and distribution strategy. Academic research on cryptocurrency markets has historically been published through open channels, allowing market participants, regulators, and corporate decision-makers to access findings simultaneously. Wharton's approach with this particular report deviates from that norm.

For finance executives, consumer confidence in cryptocurrency remains a critical data point. Treasury decisions about whether to hold digital assets, operational choices about accepting crypto payments, and strategic questions about blockchain integration all hinge partly on understanding public sentiment toward these technologies. A comprehensive report from a top-tier business school would typically inform those decisions—if accessible.

The Knowledge at Wharton platform continues to publish other content openly, including recent pieces in its "Nano Tools for Leaders" series and ongoing coverage of AI, finance, and technology topics. The cryptocurrency report stands out as an exception to the platform's standard distribution model.

The restricted release leaves corporate finance teams without access to what the title suggests could be valuable benchmark data on consumer attitudes toward digital assets as of 2025. Whether Wharton plans to eventually release the findings publicly, offer them through institutional subscriptions, or keep them permanently restricted remains unclear.