Gen Z and Millennials Growing More Comfortable With Crypto: OKX Survey

The survey, conducted among 1,000 U.S. adults and released in January 2026, paints a clear picture of how age shapes financial attitudes today. Gen Z and Millennials, groups that have grown up alongside the internet and mobile technology, are far more likely to trust cryptocurrency platforms than Baby Boomers, who largely remain skeptical of digital assets.

Among Gen Z respondents, 40% said they have a high level of trust in crypto platforms, a figure that closely mirrors Millennials at 41%. For Baby Boomers, that number drops sharply to just 9%, highlighting a significant confidence gap between generations.

Trust in traditional finance tells the opposite story. Nearly three-quarters of Baby Boomers reported strong confidence in banks and legacy financial institutions, while younger respondents were notably less convinced. Around one in five Gen Z and Millennial participants expressed low trust in traditional banks, suggesting that younger adults are more willing to question long-standing financial structures.

The findings also show that these attitudes are not static. Over the past year, trust in crypto has been steadily rising among younger groups. More than a third of Gen Z and Millennial respondents said their confidence in crypto platforms has increased since early 2025. Among Baby Boomers, however, only a small fraction reported any improvement in sentiment, indicating that skepticism remains deeply entrenched.

This shift in confidence is beginning to translate into action. When asked about future plans, younger respondents were far more likely to say they intend to increase their crypto trading activity in 2026. Four in ten Gen Z participants and more than a third of Millennials expect to trade more frequently, compared with just over one in ten Boomers. The data suggests that younger generations are not only more open to crypto, but increasingly willing to engage with it as part of their financial lives.

The growing interest in digital assets among younger adults appears to extend beyond trust and trading intentions. A separate survey data found that a substantial portion of Gen Z respondents expressed a preference for receiving digital assets as gifts during the holidays, suggesting that cryptocurrencies and other digital tokens are becoming part of everyday financial thinking for younger generations. This kind of cultural shift, where digital assets are not only invested in, but also considered desirable in social contexts, aligns with the broader confidence and engagement patterns shown in the OKX survey.

The survey also sheds light on why different generations view crypto so differently. Across all age groups, security emerged as an important factor in building trust. However, priorities diverge beyond that. Younger respondents tended to focus on platform security and usability, while Baby Boomers placed greater importance on regulation, oversight, and legal protections.

Perceptions of crypto’s usefulness also vary sharply. Younger participants were more likely to see cryptocurrencies as offering meaningful advantages, such as constant access, flexibility, and the ability to move value without traditional intermediaries. Many Boomers, by contrast, said crypto does not solve problems that existing financial services cannot already handle, reinforcing the idea that perceived utility plays a central role in shaping trust.

These differences reflect more than investment preferences, they point to contrasting financial mindsets shaped by experience. Younger generations have come of age in a world of apps, instant payments, and digital self-service, where interacting with technology is second nature. Older generations built their financial habits around institutions that emphasized stability, personal relationships, and long-term trust earned over decades.

The implications extend well beyond individual investors. As younger cohorts gradually make up a larger share of economic activity, their expectations are likely to influence how financial products are built and delivered. Digital platforms that prioritize transparency, ease of use, and security may find it easier to connect with these users, while traditional institutions may face growing pressure to modernize their offerings.

At the same time, the survey highlights a challenge for the crypto industry itself. While confidence is rising among younger users, older generations remain cautious, particularly around regulation and risk. Bridging that divide may require clearer safeguards, stronger consumer protections, and better communication around how crypto platforms operate.

Rather than signaling a clean break from traditional finance, the findings suggest a gradual shift. Younger generations appear open to integrating crypto into their financial routines, while older investors continue to rely on familiar systems. How these perspectives evolve and whether they eventually converge will help shape the future of financial services.

The OKX survey offers a snapshot of a financial landscape in transition, trust is no longer uniform, and age is increasingly one of the strongest indicators of how people view the future of money.