45% of Young Investors Own Crypto as Housing Dreams Fade: Survey

New data from Coinbase reveals that a significant portion of younger U.S. investors, nearly 45%, have invested in cryptocurrency. This contrasts sharply with older generations, where only 18% hold crypto assets. The survey reflects a growing skepticism among younger investors about traditional wealth-building measures, driven by rising housing costs, significant student debt, and slow wage growth.

Key Takeaways

High Crypto Adoption: 45% of younger investors own cryptocurrency, versus 18% of older generations.
Wealth-Building Challenges: 73% of younger investors feel they face more challenges in building wealth compared to older individuals.
Portfolio Differentiation: Younger investors allocate 25% of their portfolios to non-traditional assets, a stark increase from the 8% seen in older investors.
Attitude Towards Risk: Younger investors are more willing to explore new investment opportunities, including derivatives and decentralized finance products.
Influence of Social Media: Many young investors rely on social media influencers for investment advice, with YouTube being a primary source.

New Generational Approach to Investing

Recent findings show that 45% of younger U.S. investors currently own cryptocurrency. This trend comes as traditional avenues for wealth accumulation, like homeownership, become less attainable. The State of Crypto Q4 2025 report—based on responses from 4,350 U.S. adults, including 2,005 active investors—illustrates that younger generations are dedicating roughly 25% of their investment portfolios to non-traditional assets, compared to just 8% among older individuals.

Interestingly, three-quarters of the younger cohort believe their generation faces greater obstacles in creating wealth through conventional means than older generations did.

Young Investors Own Crypto - Coinbase Survey Summary

A Shift From Conventional Wealth Building

Despite displaying a more optimistic outlook regarding the economy, younger investors are skeptical about traditional methods of wealth accumulation. They've watched housing markets become increasingly unaffordable, student debt rise, and wages stagnate. 73% of these investors think their generation faces more significant wealth-building hurdles than 57% of older adults think they do.

This mindset directly influences their investment strategies. While rates of stock ownership are relatively similar across different age groups, younger investors tend to seek out alternative assets more aggressively, aiming to bridge the wealth gap. They view crypto investments as a fundamental part of their financial strategy rather than a speculative gamble. About 47% of younger investors wish to access new crypto assets before they are available to the general market, in contrast to just 16% of older investors.

Furthermore, 80% of younger adults foresee cryptocurrency playing a much larger role in future financial systems, while this belief drops to 60% among older investors.

Embracing Innovative Investment Options

The trend of younger investors embracing new opportunities extends beyond just holding cryptocurrencies. Approximately 80% of these investors are open to exploring emerging investment options before they become mainstream, unlike less than 50% of older investors. Their interests include crypto derivatives, predictions markets, around-the-clock stock trading, initial token sales, altcoins, and decentralized finance products.

This trend indicates a departure from previous studies that highlight a drop in crypto interest among general investors. For instance, a FINRA Foundation study showed that the percentage of U.S. investors considering cryptocurrency dropped from 33% in 2021 to 26% in 2024, while those regarding digital assets as very risky increased from 58% to 66%. Nevertheless, this decline in interest is primarily among older investors, whereas younger individuals continue to drive the trend of crypto adoption.

Changing Behaviors and Influences

There is a noticeable generational gap in trading activities and how information is sought. Younger investors tend to trade more often and are more willing to take calculated risks in pursuit of higher returns. Many are pushing platforms to operate around the clock and to offer a wider array of assets.

Interestingly, 61% of investors under 35 rely on social media influencers for investment guidance, with YouTube being the preferred platform. Recommendations from friends and family also outweigh advice from financial professionals for these younger investors.

Institutional Support and Confidence

The shift towards non-traditional asset allocation among younger investors aligns with findings that show institutional support is bolstering market confidence. A November survey by Zerohash found that 35% of affluent young Americans have relocated their investments from advisers lacking in cryptocurrency offerings. More than 80% have reported increased confidence due to major financial institutions like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Morgan Stanley entering the crypto space.

While concentrating portfolios in volatile assets raises questions about long-term financial stability, this trend appears to be robust rather than speculative. Younger investors are consistently discussing cryptocurrency as a vital part of their wealth-building strategies rather than merely a passing opportunity.

In response, Coinbase is developing the Everything Exchange, a platform designed for seamless trading across various asset types while ensuring security, compliance, and responsible innovation. This aligns with the expectations of younger investors, who seek platforms built for a digital-first world rather than relying on traditional financial structures with limited trading hours and narrow asset options.