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Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.
1. You could lose all the money you invest
2. You should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong
3. You may not be able to sell your investment when you want to
4. Cryptoasset investments can be complex
5. Don't put all your eggs in one basket
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.
1 in 10 Brits (11%) currently own cryptocurrency according to 2026 research by Finder, which equates to around 6 million people. The latest figures suggest that there are 741 million global crypto owners as of 2025.
As of 2026, 8% of Brits own Bitcoin, which is approximately 4.6 million people. Around the world, it’s estimated that there are 365 million Bitcoin owners.
Bitcoin (BTC) is by far the most popular cryptocurrency in the UK – at 37% ownership among those who are current crypto investors. Second place is taken by Ethereum (ETH), which is owned by around a quarter (26%) of current crypto investors.
Binance Coin (BNB) is owned by 23% of crypto investors, while Solana (SOL) is owned by 1 in 5 (20%). Making up the top 5 is Tether (USDT), owned by 19% of crypto investors.
| Cryptocurrency | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 61.2% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 27.7% |
| Solana (SOL) | 22.9% |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | 17.0% |
| Binance Coin (BNB) | 16.5% |
| NFTs | 11.2% |
| XRP (XRP) | 10.6% |
| Tether (USDT) | 9.0% |
| Tron (TRX) | 9.0% |
| Shiba Inu (SHIB) | 8.5% |
Our 2026 survey found that crypto ownership is highest among millennials (aged 29-44), with more than 1 in 5 millennials (22%) currently invested and a further 1 in 5 (20%) having invested in the past, making a total of 42%.
They are closely followed by generation Z adults (aged 18-28), with 17% investing currently and 22% investing in the past, for a total of 39%.
The popularity of cryptocurrency then drops rapidly for people in their late 40s and older. Only 14% of generation X (aged 45-60), 6% of baby boomers (aged 61-79) and 3% of the silent generation (aged 80+) have ever invested in cryptocurrency.
| Generation | Percentage of crypto investors |
|---|---|
| Gen Z (18-27) | 16.8% |
| Millenials (28-43) | 18.4% |
| Gen X (44-59) | 5.7% |
| Baby boomers (60-78) | 1.1% |
As of 2026, 31% of men have invested in cryptocurrency, compared to just 17% of women. Bitcoin is the most popular choice among both genders, with 40% of male investors and 30% 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.
Finder commissioned Censuswide to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+. A total of 2,000 people were questioned throughout Great Britain between 9 and 11 February 2026, with representative quotas for gender, age and region. The online survey has a margin of error of ±2.2% at a 95% confidence level. Censuswide follows the MRS Code of Conduct, ESOMAR principles, and is a member of the British Polling Council.
Sophie Barber
Communications Manager
*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.
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