Most Americans aren’t interested. A solid 60% say they have no plans to ever buy crypto. Only 6% are unsure or unfamiliar with the idea.
College graduates and upper‑income adults each report 19% ownership. Conservatives are at 18%. Seniors and lower‑income earners fall to 7% and 9%, respectively. These gaps show that digital currency is concentrated among certain groups.
Familiarity doesn’t seem to help much. Almost everyone—95%—has heard of crypto. But only 35% say they know something about it. A clear 60% say they’ve heard of it but don’t know much.
About 55% call it “very risky,” and 32% say “somewhat risky.” Even among current owners, 42% see it as very risky. Among those with no interest in buying, that number jumps to 72%.
Politics plays a part here too. Democrats rate crypto as very risky at 66%, liberals at 71%, while Republicans and conservatives both land at 45%.
Right now, only 4% of adults name crypto as the best long‑term investment. By contrast, about 60% own stocks or real estate.
Among investors—defined as people with $10,000 or more in stocks, bonds or mutual funds—ownership jumped from 2% in 2018 to 6% in 2021, and now sits at 17%.
For now, crypto stays on the fringes. Younger men, higher earners and certain political groups make up most of the base.
Many others will likely watch from the sidelines until they see clearer rules, better safety nets and solid returns. In the meantime, the market waits to see if broader interest will ever follow.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
