Key highlights:
- Gallup survey reveals US crypto ownership’s fall to 11% in 2026
- While the figure stood at just 2% in 2018, it rose to 17% in 2025
- Investors continue to see crypto as risky despite the industry’s vast growth
US investors appear to be becoming less interested in crypto this year. According to a new Gallup survey, fewer investors hold cryptocurrencies, with ownership dropping to 11% from last year’s 17%. This significant drop comes as investors continue to see Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as high-risk assets.
Crypto ownership declines in 2026
A Gallup survey reveals that crypto ownership in the US has declined across several groups. As per the survey released on September 21, 2026, the figure has significantly dropped from the 2025 high. While individuals aged 18-49 continue to hold the highest number of crypto assets, with the ownership rate at 24%, the figure has fallen sharply from 33% in 2025.
US investors’ interest in crypto. Source: Gallup
Notably, one of the major factors that drive crypto ownership is income. When income is lower, exposure to crypto will also fall. As per the report, about 15% of people with higher income hold crypto, while only 7% of middle-income investors and 4% of lower-income investors own the assets.
Further, the Gallup survey highlights that crypto ownership remains limited among the US population. Only 9% of US adults currently own crypto, marking a notable decrease from 14% in 2025. About 66% stated that they have no interest in buying crypto. 19% said that they were either interested or planning to invest in digital assets.
Crypto adoption has grown over time
Although there is a significant decline in US crypto ownership this year, it is much higher compared to past years. In 2018, only 2% of American investors owned Bitcoin. The figure gradually rose to 6% in 2021 before reaching a high of 17% in 2025.
This shows that crypto ownership in the US has shown gradual growth, rather than a sudden change. The latest results also reveal that the growth hasn’t completely reversed, as the 2026 figures are still higher than the 2018 and 2021 findings.
Further strengthening the Gallup survey, the Federal Reserve’s household survey has also shown a similar trend in crypto ownership. According to the Fed, crypto remains a relatively small part of the US investors’ financial activity. In the 2025 survey, 9% of adults reported buying or holding crypto. At the same time, only 2% used crypto for payments or money transfers.
It is worth noting that these figures are not comparable, as Gallup measures ownership, while the central bank looks at activity. However, both provide a similar idea of the role of crypto in the US financial space.
Why do investors still see crypto as risky?
Significantly, risk remains one of the biggest concerns around crypto. According to the Gallup survey, about 63% of investors consider crypto a very risky investment. Another 31% view it as somewhat risky. Even current crypto owners have similar thoughts. About 47% of investors who currently hold digital assets described them as very risky. 68% of the people with no interest in crypto also see it as a highly speculative asset.
US investor sentiment towards crypto. Source: Gallup
In a July working paper released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the team analysed the factors influencing people’s investment options. The paper revealed that expected returns and calculations of risk are the major factors affecting crypto ownership.
In addition to the perception of crypto as a risky investment option, lack of knowledge is also another major factor that keeps people away from crypto. This indicates that risk concerns and understanding of crypto continue to define how US traders view crypto.
Source:: US Crypto Ownership Drops to 11% After 2025 High: Gallup