Cryptocurrency investment by generation

Curious about the breakdown of cryptocurrency investment by generation? You probably wouldn’t be shocked to know that it’s primarily young people investing in cryptocurrency. Given that they’ve grown up with the internet, it’s easier for them to embrace new technology.

But what does the research show? 

How does Gen Z compare to millennials? 

Are boomers investing in crypto at all? Is Gen X investing more than them? 

Let’s take a look back at some 2021 statistics on cryptocurrency investment by generation¹.

Boomer (57+)

How many invested in crypto in 2021: 1.22%

What to expect from boomers in the future: While boomers are still hesitant about crypto (only 4% feel “very comfortable” investing in it), the overall trends point to crypto becoming a more popular investment for them. A global survey of adults over age 55 showed that 7 out of 10 boomers already invest in crypto or plan to do so in the future. And during the Covid-19 pandemic, boomers and Gen X doubled their rate of crypto investments. 

Gen X (41 – 56)

How many invested in 2021: 4.93%

What to expect from Gen X in the future: While Gen X also makes up a small fraction of the crypto investment community, they actually invest the most money simply because they have more assets. And of all Gen X adults who are somewhat familiar with crypto, 41% believe that it will become widely used in transactions in the next decade. 

Millennials (25 – 40)

How many invested in 2021: 76.45% 

What to expect from millennials in the future: It’s no secret that millennials are responsible for driving the crypto boom. They are the largest generation investing in crypto, and this number is predicted to keep growing. According to a survey by CNBC, 83% of millennial millionaires plan to invest in more crypto in the new year, despite its price drop. And 67% of all millennials view it as a good investment.

Gen Z (18 – 24)

How many invested in 2021: 17.40%

What to expect from Gen Z in the future: Gen Z has the most open attitude regarding crypto. 51% said they were open to receiving payment in crypto. They are also the most likely of any group to invest in crypto, NFTs, and meme-related stocks, though they lack the same assets that millennials and Gen X have. For this reason, as Gen Z gets older and gains more wealth, they could become the dominant group in the crypto market in the future. 

How crypto investment by generation will evolve in the future

Will there be a generational shift in cryptocurrency investments? Most crypto experts predict that the percentage of people investing in crypto, including older generations, will increase as it becomes more mainstream. Keep in mind that only 56% of Americans have invested in traditional markets.

Data collected by the crypto exchange Gemini predicts that 20 million adults in the U.S. are planning to purchase crypto in 2022 and that the crypto market could double over the next year. The research also showed that the average age of these new crypto investors is likely to be 44 or older.

It seems like the trend of younger generations dominating crypto could be coming to an end!


¹Statistics source: Stilt.com