Notice: For the newest survey knowledge on using cryptocurrencies amongst U.S. adults, learn our 2023 submit.
The turmoil in cryptocurrency markets has taken a toll on investments. Among the many 16% of U.S. adults who say they’ve ever invested in, traded or used a cryptocurrency akin to bitcoin or ether, 46% report their investments have finished worse than they anticipated, in accordance with a brand new Pew Analysis Heart survey.
By comparability, 15% of those Individuals say their investments have finished higher than they anticipated, 31% say they’ve labored out about the identical as they anticipated and one other 8% say they aren’t positive.
The survey, which was performed July 5-17, 2022, reveals that the general share of U.S. adults who’ve ever invested in, traded or used a cryptocurrency (additionally known as “crypto users” on this analysis) is unchanged since September 2021. This lack of general change comes regardless of sturdy consideration to crypto within the information.
Pew Analysis Heart performed this examine to look at the methods expertise is remodeling how Individuals make investments and make purchases. This survey was performed amongst 6,034 U.S. adults from July 5-17, 2022. This included 4,996 respondents from the Heart’s American Traits Panel (ATP), an internet survey panel that’s recruited via nationwide, random sampling of residential addresses. This manner almost all U.S. adults have an opportunity of choice. It additionally included an oversample of 1,038 respondents from Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel who indicated that they’re lesbian, homosexual or bisexual (LGB), with oversampled teams weighted again to replicate proportions within the inhabitants. The survey is weighted to be consultant of the U.S. grownup inhabitants by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, training and different classes. Learn extra concerning the ATP’s methodology. Listed here are the questions used for this analysis, together with responses, and its methodology.
This survey features a complete pattern dimension of 234 Asian adults. The pattern primarily contains English-speaking Asian Individuals and, due to this fact, might not be consultant of the general Asian grownup inhabitants. Regardless of this limitation, it is very important report the views of Asian Individuals on the matters on this examine. As at all times, Asian adults’ responses are included into the final inhabitants figures all through this report.
The brand new survey additionally explores the explanations folks have for investing in cryptocurrencies.

Among the many 16% of Individuals who say they’ve ever invested in, traded or used a cryptocurrency, about three-quarters say {that a} main or minor purpose is that they need a special technique to make investments (78%) or that it’s a good technique to generate profits (75%). Some 54% say not less than a minor purpose is that they assume crypto is less complicated to get into than different methods to take a position. Smaller shares cite being extra assured in cryptocurrencies than different investments (39%) and eager to be a part of a group (33%) as not less than a minor purpose for investing.
Sure teams are notably prone to say they’ve used cryptocurrencies

Because the Heart discovered within the 2021 survey, males ages 18 to 29 stand out for saying they’ve ever invested in, traded or used a cryptocurrency akin to bitcoin or ether. About four-in-ten males ages 18 to 29 (42%) have used cryptocurrencies, in contrast with 17% of girls in that age vary.
General, males are 14 share factors extra probably than girls to say they’ve used cryptocurrencies. And adults beneath age 50 (25%) are extra probably than these 50 and older (7%) to be crypto customers. There are additionally variations by race and ethnicity. About one-in-five Black, Hispanic or Asian Individuals say they’ve ever invested in, traded or used a cryptocurrency, in contrast with 13% of White Individuals who say the identical.
Whereas comparatively few Individuals general say they’ve ever invested in, traded or used cryptocurrencies, the overwhelming majority of Individuals have heard about them. Roughly nine-in-ten Individuals (88%) say they’ve heard not less than a little bit about cryptocurrencies, together with 26% who’ve heard lots.
About half of Individuals have heard about NFTs, however few have ever purchased one

Along with asking about cryptocurrencies, the survey explored normal public consciousness and use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), prompted by the rising consideration being paid to artists, athletes and journalists who’ve created and offered NFTs.
About half of U.S. adults (49%) say they’ve heard not less than a little bit about non-fungible tokens, together with 11% who’ve heard lots. However simply 2% of Individuals say they’ve purchased an NFT.
Consciousness of and funding in NFTs fluctuate by demographic components, notably gender and age. Males are 22 share factors extra probably than girls to say they’ve heard of NFTs. And 69% of adults ages 18 to 29 say they’ve heard not less than a little bit about NFTs, in contrast with 56% of these ages 30 to 49 and 36% of these 50 and older.
Variations once more stand out when taking a look at gender and age collectively. For instance, males beneath 30 are 21 factors extra probably than girls beneath 30 to say they’ve heard not less than a little bit about NFTs (79% vs. 58%). Notably, although, amongst adults beneath 30, women and men are about equally prone to say they’ve truly purchased an NFT (5% vs. 7%).
The share of adults who’ve heard about NFTs additionally varies by race, ethnicity and earnings. Asian Individuals, for instance, are the most probably amongst racial and ethnic teams studied to say they’ve heard not less than a little bit about NFTs (66%). That compares with about half of White or Hispanic adults (49% and 48%, respectively) and 38% of Black adults. Equally, Individuals with comparatively increased incomes are most probably to have heard about NFTs: About two-thirds (66%) have heard not less than a little bit, adopted by roughly half of Individuals within the center earnings vary (51%) and a few third (36%) of these with decrease incomes. Small shares of all these teams have truly purchased NFTs.
Notice: Listed here are the questions used for this analysis, together with responses, and its methodology.