More Americans Have Tried Crypto, But Few Are Sticking With It: Survey

A national survey conducted by Ipsos for the DeFi Education Fund revealed that 22% of U.S. adults have ever owned or used crypto, an increase from 18% in 2025. However, the proportion utilizing crypto within the past 12 months remained static at 13%.

This overall growth in participation stemmed almost entirely from individuals who had previously disengaged from crypto usage. Among Americans who had not used crypto recently, the rate of having ever owned or used it more than doubled, rising from 5% to 11%.

Regarding future intentions, the percentage indicating likelihood to own or use crypto remains consistent, with 17% expecting to do so, compared to 16% the previous year. Furthermore, men were more than twice as likely as women to have used crypto in the last year, at 18% versus 8%.

The motivations behind initial engagement show curiosity as the leading driver, cited by 34% of those who have owned assets, followed by long-term investment at 25%. The survey sampled 1,545 adults between September 8 and 16 using Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel.

The survey also highlighted significant apprehension toward conventional financial structures. Only 19% of Americans perceive the current system as secure, while 63% stated it requires an upgrade to counter threats such as AI and cybercrime.

Despite widespread skepticism of traditional finance, trust in the crypto sector is low. Only 4% express high confidence in crypto exchanges, and just 5% trust decentralized platforms, contrasting sharply with 42% who trust major national banks.

A considerable knowledge gap persists, as only 2% of Americans are very familiar with DeFi, which encompasses crypto-native financial applications. Nevertheless, 40% indicated they would be at least somewhat likely to try DeFi if access were available.

This pattern suggests that while general interest in decentralized finance remains, the practical adoption by market participants is constrained by both low familiarity and persistent security concerns within the broader financial ecosystem.