Why are young people between 25 and 39 years old the ones who use crypto the most to pay?
Contrary to popular belief that the crypto ecosystem is a playground for teenagers or a haven for older finance experts, the data in Europe is conclusive: the 25 to 39 age group is the one leading the ownership and use of digital assets.
This is not a passing fad nor an isolated phenomenon on social media. We are facing a symptom of a deep fracture in the relationship between citizens and money. Millennials and the early Gen Z are not “playing” at investing; they are redesigning their financial survival.
The DNA of the modern investor: Why do 25-39 year olds dominate the market?
For this generation, which has grown up amid economic crises and total digitalization, blockchain-based assets are not a gamble but a rational response to a traditional financial system they perceive as slow and exclusionary.
Below, we break down the pillars that define this new DNA of the modern investor and the reasons why decentralized platforms have become their main store of value.
|
Category |
Description |
Impact on the user |
| Technological affinity | Growing up in a native digital environment with rapid blockchain adoption. | Ease of use and a shorter learning curve in investment apps. |
| Financial distrust | Perception of the traditional banking system as slow, exclusionary or outdated. | Migration towards decentralized systems that do not depend on intermediary institutions. |
| Freedom and transparency | Search for assets with high return potential and total traceability. | Preference for calculated risk over the low profitability of traditional savings. |
| Cultural shift | Use of crypto as a status symbol, modernity and “lifestyle” on social media. | Social validation and a sense of belonging to exclusive digital communities. |
| Web3 Economy | Direct participation in digital ownership (NFTs, DAOs and content monetization). | Users not only invest, but also “own” part of the platforms they use. |
According to a statement from Coinbase, in its report “State of Crypto Q4 2025: Younger investors are rewriting the investing playbook”, younger generations are investing in cryptocurrencies at a rate more than three times that of their older counterparts.
As a curious fact, according to a study titled “Las finanzas de los nativos digitales y millennials españoles” (The finances of Spanish digital natives and millennials) prepared by the IE Foundation of IE University and the Fundación Mutualidad de la Abogacía, more than 50% of people under 40 years old currently have cryptocurrencies in their investment portfolio, compared to no more than 18% for those over 40 years old.
Additionally, an investigation by the BBC Business Daily radio program revealed that many of these investors under 35 have a characteristic in common: their boldness.
“The COVID-19 crisis made people realize that passive income is very necessary. That was what led me to invest,” a young person told Business Daily.
Why do younger generations invest so much in crypto?
In essence, Coinbase points out that young people feel excluded from traditional paths to building wealth. Skyrocketing real estate prices, stagnant wages and the perceived barriers in the stock market have generated a sense of frustration.
That is why they are turning to alternative assets. Cryptocurrency represents not only an investment, but a new accessible vehicle for financial growth that, according to them, the old system failed to provide.
Coinbase’s CEO, Brian Armstrong, was clear. He stated that the existing financial system has numerous problems, from high fees to slow transactions and limited access. This criticism resonates deeply with a generation that values speed, transparency and decentralization. For them, crypto is not a gamble; it is a logical solution.
The speed of change: From curiosity to adoption
To understand the magnitude of this movement, it is not enough to look at who is buying, but how quickly they are doing so. Data from the Eurozone reveals a metric that is hard to ignore: ownership of cryptoassets has doubled in just two years. While in 2022 adoption stood at a modest 4%, by 2024 that figure had climbed to 9%.
The relevant point is not the absolute number, but the doubling speed. In a traditional financial system where changes usually take decades, a digital asset doubling its presence in 24 months is a clear sign that entry barriers are falling.
|
Year |
Adoption rate (Eurozone) |
Market status |
| 2022 | 4% | Technological niche / Initial exploration. |
| 2024 | 9% | Accelerated growth / Expansion phase. |
| Projection | Increasing | Consolidation as a complementary asset. |
In fact, this accelerated growth reinforces Bitnovo message: if adoption is doubling, it is because access is being simplified. With its motto “Cryptocurrencies for everyone”, the platform positions itself right at the center of this growth curve, allowing that 9% to continue expanding towards true financial freedom for ordinary people.
Resonance of digital assets with new generations
|
Resonance pillar |
Key concept |
Value for the young person / digital native |
| Digital identity | Self-expression and belonging. | Assets are an extension of their personality and status in the virtual environment. |
| Operational efficiency | 24/7 management from devices. | Eliminates physical barriers (storage/transport) and adapts to an accelerated pace of life. |
| Cultural connection | Digitization of heritage and art. | Allows owning and transmitting cultural values (such as museum pieces) in a modern way. |
| Social factor | Collecting and interaction. | The asset serves as a “key” to enter communities and share interests with like-minded peers. |
| Technical trust | Security in Blockchain. | Decentralization and transparency generate a trust that old institutions have lost. |
| Democratization | True financial inclusion. | Lowers entry barriers; a large initial capital is no longer required to start building wealth. |
To invest or to pay? The dilemma of utility
One of the most frequent questions is whether Europeans are buying crypto to “get rich” or to use it in their daily lives. The short answer is: both, but at different rates.
|
Category |
Main purpose | Current status (2026) |
Observed trend |
| Investment and savings | Store of value and hedge against inflation (the “Digital Gold”). | Dominant (~90%). It is the main reason why Europeans enter the ecosystem. | It is consolidating as a strategic allocation in personal portfolios, not just as speculation. |
| Means of payment | Purchases at stores, subscriptions and daily expenses. | Growing (~40%). It remains a minority compared to investment, but its adoption is steady. | On the rise thanks to crypto debit cards and the integration of gateways in e-commerce. |
| Remittances and transfers | Fast, low-cost cross-border transfers. | Strategic. Heavily used by expatriates and digital nomads in the eurozone. | Accelerated growth in transfers outside the EU to avoid abusive bank fees. |
What challenges does this new investment trend face?
Although enthusiasm is evident, this movement is not without obstacles. New investors must navigate a complex and volatile market. Understanding blockchain technology, managing digital wallets and recognizing security risks are essential skills. Furthermore, regulatory uncertainty remains a major cloud over the entire sector.
However, these challenges have not discouraged young investors. On the contrary, they often see volatility as an opportunity and educate themselves through communities and online resources. Their approach is practical, self-directed, and fundamentally different from the advisor-driven models of the past.
Practical tips for navigating the crypto world
If you are considering following this trend, knowledge is your most valuable asset. Start with these steps:
- Educate yourself first, invest later:Understand the basics of blockchain, the different cryptocurrencies and what drives their value.
- Start small and diversify: Never invest more than you can afford to lose. Consider distributing your investments among different assets.
- Prioritize security: Use reputable exchanges and secure hardware wallets. Your private keys are your responsibility.
- Think long-term: Consider crypto as part of a long-term wealth strategy, not a get-rich-quick scheme.
For the European investor, closely following the price of cryptocurrencies in euros is essential to understand their real profitability. Although the value of cryptocurrencies can be volatile, adoption in the eurozone shows that more and more people trust these assets as a store of value.
In short, cryptocurrencies have ceased to be a technological experiment to become a tool for social empowerment.
For today’s youth and for ordinary people who have felt ignored by traditional banking, digital assets represent the most direct path to change their destiny. This is where platforms like Bitnovo take on a vital meaning: under their motto “Cryptocurrencies for everyone”, they manage to break down entry barriers and simplify access to this new paradigm.
By eliminating intermediaries and offering total transparency, the crypto ecosystem not only offers an investment, but a real opportunity to achieve financial freedom and take full control of their economic future. It is, in essence, the democratization of money in the hands of those who were always outside the system.
