Despite high-profile promotion from political leaders and the introduction of exchange-traded funds, cryptocurrency ownership among Americans remains relatively rare, with nearly half of past investors having left the market. According to a report published by the Urban Institute, roughly 17% of American adults have ever owned cryptocurrency, but only about 9% currently own it.
US Crypto Ownership Declines Despite High-Profile Promotion and Exchange-Traded Funds
The findings are based on a survey of more than 3,000 adults conducted in January. The data indicates that crypto ownership has failed to expand significantly despite widespread accessibility. By comparison, roughly 62% of Americans own stocks, illustrating that digital assets are still viewed as a specialized asset class rather than a mainstream holding.
Political Backing and Market Volatility
President Donald Trump has openly promoted cryptocurrency, pledging to make the United States the crypto capital of the planet.
In 2025, Trump signed an executive order supporting federal regulation for digital currencies and proposed creating a national cryptocurrency stockpile. Additionally, Trump reported more than $1.4 billion in income tied to his family’s cryptocurrency ventures in 2025 through an annual financial disclosure.
While Trump’s campaign and support helped push the price of Bitcoin to record highs in 2025, the market subsequently suffered a severe downturn. The value of Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, fell sharply from around $125,000 in October 2025 to about $65,000 in late July 2026.
Market analysts point to this steep price correction as a primary driver of departures from the asset class. Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of Investopedia, noted that the drop in value means people are selling and that individuals who experimented with buying have decided they no longer want to own it after seeing the price crash. Alex Carchidi, a contributing cryptocurrency analyst at The Motley Fool, observed that many professional crypto investors have been leaving the market or hibernating since the market collapsed in October.
Accessibility, ETFs, and the Learning Curve
Federal regulators and policymakers have worked to bring digital assets into mainstream financial products. Until 2024, everyday investors seeking to trade digital currencies generally had to use specialized crypto exchanges. That changed in January 2024, when federal regulators voted to allow ordinary American investors to buy and sell spot Bitcoin ETFs in the same way they trade traditional stocks. Digital assets have also been introduced to retirement accounts.
However, critics argue that cryptocurrency does not belong in retirement accounts due to high volatility and a lack of general understanding among the public. Luisa Godinez-Puig, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute, explained that crypto can be mysterious and comes with a learning curve for many people. Amy Arnott, a portfolio strategist at Morningstar, added that volatility and periodic huge declines continue to keep people away.
Current Holders Versus Former Investors
The Urban Institute survey highlighted distinct differences in motivation between current and former crypto owners. Among Americans who still hold digital assets, 45% stated they bought it to diversify their investments, 37% cited an interest in new technology, and around 27% believe digital currencies represent the future. Most people who currently own crypto have held it for several years.
Conversely, former crypto owners were more likely to report that their primary reason for investing was to make money, rather than a belief in the technology. Roughly 8% of Americans surveyed stated they no longer own crypto, having stopped investing primarily because they were losing money during market declines.
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