Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Estimated reading time: 2 min
Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.
What are the key risks?
1. You could lose all the money you invest
The performance of most cryptoassets can be highly volatile, with their value dropping as quickly as it can rise. You should be prepared to lose all the money you invest in cryptoassets.
The cryptoasset market is largely unregulated. There is a risk of losing money or any cryptoassets you purchase due to risks such as cyber-attacks, financial crime and firm failure.
2. You should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) doesn't protect this type of investment because it's not a 'specified investment' under the UK regulatory regime – in other words, this type of investment isn't recognised as the sort of investment that the FSCS can protect. Learn more by using the FSCS investment protection checker.
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) will not be able to consider complaints related to this firm or Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA regulated firm, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here.
3. You may not be able to sell your investment when you want to
There is no guarantee that investments in cryptoassets can be easily sold at any given time. The ability to sell a cryptoasset depends on various factors, including the supply and demand in the market at that time.
Operational failings such as technology outages, cyber-attacks and comingling of funds could cause unwanted delay and you may be unable to sell your cryptoassets at the time you want.
4. Cryptoasset investments can be complex
Investments in cryptoassets can be complex, making it difficult to understand the risks associated with the investment.
You should do your own research before investing. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
5. Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Putting all your money into a single type of investment is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well.
A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments.
If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA's website here.
For further information about cryptoassets, visit the FCA's website here.
Cryptocurrencies continue to grow in popularity and notoriety, with investors buying and selling it on cryptocurrency exchanges. Find out how many Brits own crypto and how this compares to global trends.
UK cryptocurrency statistics: Highlights
1 in 10 Brits (9%), approximately 5 million people, own cryptocurrency in 2025.
6% of Brits, approximately 3 million people, own Bitcoin in 2025.
Almost 3 in 5 Brits (57%) said they wouldn’t consider buying cryptocurrency.
3 in 5 Brits (61%) who are currently invested in cryptocurrency own Bitcoin.
Revenue in the UK cryptocurrencies market is projected to reach £3 billion ($3.74 billion) by 2028.
In 2024, there were 617 million crypto owners around the world, including 314 million Bitcoin owners.
How many people invest in crypto in the UK?
1 in 10 Brits (9%) currently own cryptocurrency according to 2025 research by Finder, which equates to around 7 million people. The latest figures suggest that there are 617 million global crypto owners as of 2024.
How many people own Bitcoin in the UK?
As of 2025, 6% of Brits own Bitcoin, which is approximately 3.9 million people. This is the most common type of cryptocurrency, owned by more than half (55%) of UK crypto investors. Around the world, it’s estimated that there are 314 million Bitcoin owners.
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What are the most popular cryptocurrencies in the UK?
Bitcoin (BTC) is by far the most popular cryptocurrency in the UK at 61% ownership, but second place is taken by Ethereum (ETH), which is owned by just under a third (28%) of current crypto investors.
Solana (SOL) is owned by 23% of crypto investors, while Dogecoin (DOGE) is owned by 17. Making up the top 5 is Binance Coin (BNB), which is owned by 16% of crypto investors.
Our 2025 survey found that crypto ownership is highest among millennials (aged 28-43), with almost 1 in 5 millennials (18%) investing in cryptocurrency at some point. They are closely followed by generation Z adults (aged 18-27), with 17% investing.
The popularity of cryptocurrency then drops rapidly for people in their late 40s and older. Only 6% of generation X (aged 44-59), 1% of baby boomers (aged 60-78) and 2% of the silent generation (aged 79+) have invested in cryptocurrency.
As of 2025, 13% of men have invested in cryptocurrency, compared to just 6% of women. Bitcoin is the most popular choice among both genders, with 64% of male investors and 56% of female investors owning it.
If crypto ownership is something that interests you, take a look at our guide to the best crypto to buy now.
Sources
Methodology
Finder commissioned Censuswide to carry out nationally representative surveys of adults aged 18+ in January 2025. A total of 2,000 people were questioned throughout Great Britain, with representative quotas for gender, age and region.
Click here for more research. For all media enquiries, please contact –
Matt Mckenna
UK Head of Communications T: +44 20 8191 8806
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*Cryptocurrencies aren't regulated in the UK and there's no protection from the Financial Ombudsman or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Your capital is at risk. Capital gains tax on profits may apply.
Cryptocurrencies are speculative and investing in them involves significant risks - they're highly volatile, vulnerable to hacking and sensitive to secondary activity. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This content shouldn't be interpreted as a recommendation to invest. Before you invest, you should get advice and decide whether the potential return outweighs the risks. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
Sophie Barber is a senior content marketing manager for Finder in the UK. She has over 5 years experience in writing and publishing clear, concise and informative articles that help consumers make informed decisions.
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George is a deputy editor at Finder. He has previously written for The Motley Fool UK, Nasdaq, Freetrade, Investing in the Web, MoneyMagpie, Online Mortgage Advisor, Wealth, and Compare Forex Brokers.
He's focused on making personal finance and investing engaging for everyone. To do this he draws from previous work and his Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA), sharing what he’s learnt. When he’s not geeking out about money, you’ll find him playing sports and staying active.
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