Gemini Survey Reveals 51% Of Gen Z Adults Worldwide Own Crypto

That figure stands well above the 35% reported by the general population. In the U.S. alone, Gen Z ownership matched 51%, ahead of Millennials at 49% and Gen X at 29%.

One in three U.S. Gen Z respondents said they would feel comfortable putting at least 5% of their portfolio into crypto, compared to 21% of the broader population.

Gen Z Views on ETFs and Regulation

Nearly half of Gen Z respondents globally — 48% — said they invest in crypto to generate income. The same share, 48%, said they were more likely to buy crypto because of access through exchange-traded funds. That compares to 37% across all age groups.

Gen Z also showed a different attitude toward oversight.

Only 31% strongly agreed that the industry needs more government regulation, compared to 46% of the general population.

In the U.K., 42% of Gen Z crypto owners said they use digital assets as an inflation hedge, versus 32% of all U.K. holders. In France, 39% of Gen Z owners said they bought crypto to generate profit, compared to 30% of the wider French population.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs and Younger Investors

The survey was conducted months after the first U.S. spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs launched in Jan. 2024. Those products opened a new channel for investors who prefer regulated vehicles over direct token custody. Gemini's data suggests that format resonated strongly with younger cohorts, who showed greater willingness to enter the market through ETFs than older age groups.

Alexey Bondarev is the Head of Content at Yellow.com, having reported on crypto for the last 10 years. He specializes in in-depth Research and Learn pieces, with a focus on analytical reporting, industry context, and the bigger forces shaping crypto, from the AI era and security technologies to fintech innovation. He believes that everything digital will imminently overcome everything analogue and is working hard to make that come true.