Crypto Across Generations: How Different Age Groups are Embracing Digital Assets in 2025

Over the past ten years, crypto has been on a steady, linear trajectory. It began as a niche interest among IT hobbyists, libertarians, and dark web users, but it soon became a mainstream way to invest and spend. However, is this a story only relevant to youngsters, or does crypto transcend generations?

Gen Z—Knowing No Different

Almost nobody who fits into the Gen Z category can remember a time before crypto existed. While they may not have been aware of it, Bitcoin was founded in 2009 and gained widespread attention in 2013.

One survey found that globally, 51% of Gen Z survey respondents own or have previously owned crypto. This was higher in the UK (53%) and lower in France (47%). 

Gen Z has been the generation most likely to find new ways to use crypto that pushes boundaries. They’re highly into video games and VR, and much of the crypto integration into those is a result of Gen Z’s appetite for it.

Gen Z is also the most likely age group to see crypto not just as an investment, but as a statement or fashion piece. The early craze for Prime drinks, driven by artificial scarcity and influencer marketing, is similar to that of meme coins and their status. 

Plus, Gen Z are most likely to be introduced to new crypto projects via streaming. When looking at streaming-crypto integrated sites like Pump.fun (banned in the UK), pump-and-dumps are glorified, and the meme aspect of crypto is fully embraced. 

In the same report, 32% of the UK general population had held crypto, which is quite high. And, given that millennials’ responses were much closer to Gen Z than the general population, it asks whether “knowing no different” is really the reason behind the generational divide.

Tomorrow’s Mindset; Yesterday’s Caution

Last year, Nick Clegg appeared on the political podcast ‘Leading’. Given that he’s worked as both the Deputy Prime Minister in the UK and Vice President of Global Affairs for Facebook, he had a lot to say about the cultural difference. Clegg’s summation was that Westminster is stuck in the past and is fixed on preserving old customs, while Silicon Valley is too forward-looking and learns nothing from history. They’re complete opposites.

While there are some cultural differences here, it’s clear that the generational divide plays a part. The average age of an MP in the UK is around 50, and these oversee our laws around crypto to some extent, while six people pulled from Silicon Valley to help make up Musk’s DOGE team were between the ages of 19 and 25. While the DOGE team aren’t specifically responsible for crypto oversight, there is a treasury relevance and a broader indication that Gen Z isn’t just a consumer of new technology but the one programming it.

Younger people are inherently more adaptable and focused on the future. The Theory of Change suggests it’s always the younger generation that drives change because as we get older, we want to conserve what we are used to. One example of this is that younger Brits are less likely to care about cash. They’re less worried about a cashless society because only 17% use cash regularly.

Millennials: the Crypto Pioneers

Millennials are in an interesting spot when it comes to crypto. They are young enough to be technologically savvy and open-minded; however, they’re also old enough to have remembered the 2008 financial crisis. And, for those who remember 2008 and its impact, it’s easier to understand the importance of regulation.

Millennials are more likely to view Bitcoin as a “digital gold”—not a meme coin or a way to get rich quickly, but as a second currency and a means to diversify. Millennials are also highly interested in the technological potential for transparency and privacy, and they are young enough to invest in crypto as part of a 20-year retirement allocation.

It’s worth remembering that this is the generation that founded crypto, and they are the most likely age group to be directors of large crypto projects. While they might be under-represented within FCA and parliament regulation, this will soon shift over the next decade, meaning a more crypto-literate, tech-savvy generation will soon regulate the industry.

Risk and Reward

Another survey found that Gen Z investing accounts were four times more likely to have crypto inside them than in retirement accounts. Of course, this highlights a generational divide, but it also highlights why it’s logical and has to be the case.

When framed like that, it makes sense. As we approach retirement, our appetite for risk decreases because the time horizon for investments is brought forward. Our ability to ride out downturns until they recover simply isn’t there, and it’s why younger investors are more likely to be invested in 100% equities (or in more extreme cases, 100% crypto). Any reputable self-balancing retirement fund will decrease equities (and crypto) as retirement approaches in search of lower volatility.

While crypto does have its uses and transactional potential, its market volume is still dominated by profit-seeking investors looking to speculate on its value. That’s not inherently bad (unless you’re idealistic about having a transactional currency with no volatility), but it highlights why retirement accounts wouldn’t hold it. 

Gen Z can simply bear more risk. They can make mistakes, suffer losses, and have time to learn from it. They can also buy and hold with a much longer time horizon.

Gen X and Boomers

This brings us to Gen X and Boomers, who represent the more cautious segment of the crypto adoption curve. This isn’t to say there is no interest—this is the generation that can be highly suspicious of government activity (e.g. cashless society) and our lack of privacy, which crypto certainly has something to say about.

However, there is a clear gap in technical knowledge. For those looking to purchase or invest in crypto, the barrier can be understanding how to logistically acquire it. Some exchanges, like Coinbase, have done a good job at making this more accessible, but it comes at the cost of what crypto is truly about: financial sovereignty and decentralisation. Frustratingly, it’s difficult to fully embrace the essence of crypto without being technologically savvy. And, it just so happens to be common for humans to disregard the existence of things they don’t understand.

However, it may be for the best. While crypto has a lot of potential in our economy, it’s not yet established enough for it to matter too much to the older generation (crypto-only merchants are rare). That leaves the second use—speculation—which would not fit into the risk-averse strategy that is required when approaching retirement.  

Conclusion

No matter your generation, crypto’s growing influence on finance is undeniable. Whether you're a Gen Z adopter, a millennial pioneer, or a cautious Gen X or Boomer investor, having the right guidance is crucial. Englebert offers expert insight into crypto, regulatory changes, and how to tackle the UK market. Get in touch today to see how we can support.

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