Global alts AUM to hit $32tn by 2030

Global alternatives assets under management (AUM) are expected to hit $32tn (£23.8tn) by 2030, as private markets enter “a new era of growth”, according to Preqin.

The data provider’s Private Markets in 2030 Report suggests that alternative assets – incorporating private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, hedge funds, and natural resources – are set to benefit from a cylical and structural transformation globally.

It predicted that AI will act as a tailwind for private capital, becoming a core driver of VC-backed investment.

It also said that infrastructure is set to accelerate as an asset class, with AUM approaching $3tn by 2030. European infrastructure AUM growth is expected to outpace that of North America, Preqin said, driven by investments in energy security, digital infrastructure and defence.

Meanwhile, it noted that private credit is entering maturity, with the rise of more-liquid fund structures to support fundraising.

It expects private credit AUM to hit $4.5tn in 2030, more than double the 2024 figure of $2.1tn, with bank disintermediation and new borrower supply predicted to drive demand for direct lending and other strategies.

“As we look toward 2030, private markets are entering a new era of growth – one defined by innovation, resilience, and strategic reallocation. With alternative assets forecast to reach $32tn in AUM by the end of the decade, this transformation is not only cyclical but structural,” said Cameron Joyce, director, head of research insights at Preqin.

“The convergence of public and private markets is reshaping investor expectations, driving demand for transparency, standardized data, and whole portfolio solutions. Investors who embrace this evolution – powered by AI-driven efficiencies, infrastructure-led expansion, and a more unified investment data ecosystem – will be best positioned to capture long-term value.”