Report: 45% of young investors in the United States hold cryptocurrency, while only 18% of older groups
According to the "2025 Q4 Cryptocurrency Industry Status" report released by Coinbase on December 16, the penetration rate of cryptocurrency among U.S. investors shows a significant generational difference and is rapidly becoming a mainstream investment option for the younger generation.
The report shows that as many as 45% of young investors in the United States currently hold cryptocurrency. In contrast, this percentage is only 18% among older investors, with a gap of more than two times between the two groups.
This data clearly outlines a generational divide, indicating that cryptocurrency, as an emerging asset class, has varying levels of acceptance and popularity among different age groups.
This difference arises from the fundamentally different perceptions and sources of trust in the financial system between the two generations. The report analysis points out that older investors tend to trust and rely on the traditional, centralized financial system composed of banks, brokers, and other institutions.
In contrast, the younger generation has grown up as "digital natives" in an internet and digital-native environment, and they have a stronger inherent trust and willingness to participate in a programmable cryptocurrency economy driven by code and decentralized networks.
Moreover, for many young people, cryptocurrency is not just an investment tool; it is an important, if not primary, means for them to accumulate wealth and participate in the future digital economy.
This data also reflects that the process of cryptocurrency "mainstreaming" is not occurring synchronously across all demographics, but is advancing along a clear generational trajectory.
Given time, current young cryptocurrency holders will grow to become a substantial wealth force in society, along with the continuous influx of a new generation of young people. This demographic shift will inject long-term incremental users and funds into the cryptocurrency market.
Although short-term fluctuations in the cryptocurrency market are inevitable, this profound generational trend is the solid social foundation for the long-term sustainability and continuous expansion of cryptocurrency as an asset class.
In summary, the trends revealed in this report are sufficient to indicate that the popularity of cryptocurrency has transcended mere market speculation, becoming a profound reflection of social change and generational value shifts.