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Ownership Decline: The proportion of UK adults holding crypto assets fell sharply in 2025 to 8%, down from a peak of 12% in 2024, according to research conducted by YouGov for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
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Increased Holdings: Despite fewer owners, remaining investors are holding larger balances on average, with ownership of portfolios worth £1,001 to £10,000 increasing.
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Entry Point: Centralized exchanges remain the dominant entry point, used by 73% of respondents, who cite ease of use and security as the most important factors.
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Regulatory View: A quarter of users said they would be more likely to invest if cryptocurrencies were more regulated, particularly if it included financial protection in case of platform failure.
UK Crypto Ownership Pulls Back from 2024 Peak
New consumer research by YouGov, on behalf of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), reveals that the proportion of UK adults owning crypto assets declined to 8% in 2025, a notable drop from 12% in the prior year. However, this level still represents roughly double the ownership reported in 2021, indicating a pullback from a market peak rather than a collapse. Public awareness of crypto remains high and stable at 91%.
Investor Behavior Shifts to Larger Portfolios
Despite the dip in overall user numbers, the research found that the typical value held by investors has increased. The share of users with very small holdings (£100 or less) continued to fall, while ownership of higher-value portfolios, specifically those between £1,001 and £10,000, grew by seven percentage points combined. This suggests that the market is consolidating around more committed investors.
Risk Appetite and Regulation
Centralized exchanges remain the overwhelmingly dominant entry point for UK crypto ownership, utilized by 73% of users. The research also highlighted the distinct risk tolerance of crypto users, with 63% willing to take higher risks for higher returns, compared to only 24% of non-owners. Regarding regulation, mixed views were reported: one quarter of users said they would be more likely to invest if the asset class was more regulated, and an additional 26% required financial protection against platform failure. These findings come as the UK government advances its plan to regulate crypto assets under the same framework as traditional financial products, with enforcement planned to begin from 2027.
