U.S. Crypto Ownership Drops to 11% as Risk Perception Peaks

Gallup’s June 2026 poll of 2,043 U.S. adults, including more than 1,000 investors with at least $10,000 in investable assets, found cryptocurrency ownership among investors at 11%, a six‑point decline from the 17% recorded in 2025.

Ownership Across Demographics

Even as overall ownership fell, younger men remained the most likely holders. Twenty‑four percent of male investors aged 18‑49 reported owning crypto, down from 33% a year earlier but still more than double the rate in any other age‑gender group.

Income also correlated with ownership: 15% of upper‑income investors owned crypto, compared with 7% of middle‑income and 4% of lower‑income investors. The drop was smallest among upper‑income investors (four points) and larger for the two lower‑income brackets (eight points each).

Risk Perception Remains High

Overall, 63% of investors described cryptocurrency as very risky, and 31% said it was somewhat risky. Among current owners, 47% still considered it very risky, while 68% of non‑owners applied the highest‑risk label.

Comparison With Other Surveys

Gallup’s figures differ from other U.S. surveys. The Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking reported 9% of adults had bought or held crypto in the prior year, with only 2% using it for payments. A National Cryptocurrency Association study estimated over 67 million U.S. crypto holders, reflecting a broader definition of ownership.

Motivations and Knowledge Gaps

Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland links ownership to expectations of higher returns and portfolio diversification, while non‑owners cite limited knowledge and negative views as primary barriers. An experiment in the Cleveland Fed study showed that providing information about past crypto returns increased respondents’ desired allocation to crypto and subsequent purchases.