Gallup survey finds U.S. investor crypto ownership plunges to 11%, down from 17% in 2025

U.S. crypto ownership among investors fell to 11% in 2026, down from 17% the year before, according to a Gallup survey released September 21, 2026.

The survey, conducted from June 1 to 15 among 2,043 U.S. adults, found that the retreat came as investors continued to express substantial concerns about the risks associated with digital assets.

Gallup’s investor sample consisted of more than 1,000 people with at least $10,000 in investable assets. While the latest crypto ownership figure represents a significant decline from 2025, it remains above the 6% recorded in 2021 and the 2% reported in 2018.

Risk concerns continue to weigh on crypto ownership

The latest figures show that crypto ownership is being accompanied by persistent concerns over investment risk. Gallup found that 63% of investors described cryptocurrency as “very risky,” while another 31% classified it as “somewhat risky.” Only a small proportion considered the asset class less risky.

The perception extends beyond people who have never owned digital assets. Among existing cryptocurrency owners, 47% still described the asset class as “very risky.” The proportion was considerably higher among investors who expressed no interest in cryptocurrency, reaching 68%.

Those findings are significant because they suggest that risk perception is not confined to people unfamiliar with the market. A substantial share of current participants also recognizes the possibility of large price movements and losses.

The relationship between crypto ownership and risk perception is particularly relevant after the strong market cycles of recent years.

Digital assets have experienced periods of substantial appreciation followed by steep declines, reinforcing the importance of volatility when investors evaluate potential returns against possible losses.

Younger investors remain more active participants

Although overall crypto ownership declined, participation was not evenly distributed across demographic groups.

Men between 18 and 49 remained the investor group with the highest reported ownership rate. Twenty-four percent of investors in that category said they owned cryptocurrency, down from 33% in 2025.

Income also remained an important dividing line. Fifteen percent of upper-income investors reported owning cryptocurrency, compared with 7% of middle-income investors and 4% of lower-income investors.

The changes suggest that crypto ownership remains concentrated among particular investor groups despite the broader decline. Younger men continue to account for a comparatively large share of participation, while higher-income investors also maintain greater exposure than other income groups.

The Cleveland Federal Reserve’s research cited in the report provides additional context. Its researchers identified investment expectations and perceived returns as important factors associated with cryptocurrency ownership.

The research also found that people who did not own crypto frequently pointed to insufficient knowledge or unfavorable views of cryptocurrency as an investment.

Meanwhile, existing holders were more likely to identify potential profits and portfolio diversification as reasons for participating in the market.

Different surveys offer different views of crypto ownership

The latest figures also highlight why investors should be careful when comparing estimates of crypto ownership from different studies.

Gallup’s survey measures current ownership among a defined group of U.S. investors, while the Federal Reserve’s household research measures whether adults bought or held cryptocurrency as an investment during the preceding year.

Those differences in methodology can produce different estimates without necessarily indicating that one survey is incorrect.

The Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking found that 9% of adults had bought or held cryptocurrency as an investment during the previous year, while only 2% reported using cryptocurrency for payments or transfers.

Another study cited in the report estimated that more than 67 million Americans held cryptocurrency, demonstrating how the definition of a crypto holder and the methodology used to collect data can materially affect the resulting figure.

Gallup’s latest figures show participation has fallen from its 2025 peak, but they do not indicate that interest in cryptocurrency has disappeared.

Instead, the survey presents a U.S. market where a relatively small proportion of investors currently hold digital assets, while a larger group remains either unconvinced about cryptocurrency’s investment case or concerned about its risk profile.

As the industry continues to mature, future changes in market conditions, investor expectations and understanding of digital assets will provide important context for determining whether the latest decline in crypto ownership represents a temporary pullback or part of a longer-term shift in U.S. investor participation.