Digital assets firm OKX has pointed out that a significant gap has emerged between younger and older generations regarding their views on cryptocurrency. OKX also mentioned that a recent survey of 1,000 Americans, conducted in early 2026, highlights how Gen Z and Millennials are far more enthusiastic and trusting of crypto compared to Baby Boomers. This disparity not only reflects differing attitudes toward technology but also signals potential shifts in the future of money management.
The data paints a clear picture of this “crypto age gap.”
Younger individuals show higher confidence in crypto platforms.
For instance, around 40% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials rated their trust in these systems at 6 or above on a 10-point scale, making them approximately five times more trusting than Boomers, who clocked in at just 9%.
In contrast, Boomers place immense faith in conventional banks, with 74% expressing high trust levels—eight times more than their crypto counterparts.
This preference underscores a generational anchor to established financial institutions, while youth appear more disillusioned with traditional systems.
Optimism about crypto’s role in the broader economy further amplifies the divide.
Over half of Gen Z (52%) and Millennials (50%) anticipate that digital currencies will either match or exceed traditional finance in prominence.
Boomers, however, are far less convinced, with only 28% sharing this view; instead, 71% believe banks will continue to reign supreme.
This bullish outlook among the young translates into action: 40% of Gen Z and 36% of Millennials plan to ramp up their crypto trading activities in 2026, nearly four times the rate of Boomers at 11%.
Moreover, trust in crypto has grown year-over-year for 36% of Gen Z and 34% of Millennials, but only 6% of Boomers reported similar increases.
Visual representations of these trends can help illustrate the stark contrasts:
What drives this gap? Younger generations, as digital natives, prioritize features like round-the-clock accessibility, seamless cross-border transactions, and overall flexibility that crypto offers.
They see it as a tool to address shortcomings in legacy finance, with only 6% of Gen Z claiming crypto solves no problems better than banks.
Boomers, on the other hand, emphasize regulatory safeguards and legal protections, viewing crypto as inherently risky.
Nearly half of them believe it offers no superior solutions to traditional methods.
Platform security tops the list for Gen Z (59%) and Millennials (50%), while Boomers focus on oversight (65%).
This generational split isn’t just about age—it’s rooted in life experiences.
Younger people, often skeptical of centralized systems, embrace crypto as an empowering alternative for wealth creation.
For Boomers, accustomed to stable, regulated environments, the volatility and novelty of digital assets breed caution.
The survey suggests that crypto’s ongoing expansion will likely be fueled by the optimism of the youth, rather than waiting for universal buy-in.