Crypto ownership in the UK had declined to 8% by 2025 according to a YouGov poll, reflecting an apparent decrease following years of rapid growth and intense public attention for digital assets. These findings may signal changing attitudes toward crypto amid market instability, regulatory oversight and shifting economic circumstances.
A poll conducted in 2018 indicates that fewer UK adults now report owning or having previously owned cryptocurrency than during previous years, when adoption skyrocketed during the bull market cycles of 2020-2021. At that time, digital assets were widely discussed as alternatives investments and technological innovations that attracted both retail traders and long-term holders; but more recent figures suggest a period of consolidation and caution.
Analysts attribute the drop to several factors. Price volatility has shaken casual investors’ faith in the market and contributed to subsequent downturns; collapsed crypto firms and platforms also undermine trust by reinforcing perceptions of risk and instability.
Regulation developments could also have played a part in this decline. UK authorities have strengthened oversight over crypto-related activities, especially advertising and consumer protection measures. While these measures aim to create a safer environment, they have reduced aggressive marketing and speculation hype as well as new retail inflows; for some users increased regulation has helped clarify risks while prompting them to assess whether crypto is relevant to their financial goals.
Economic pressures should also be considered carefully. With inflation, higher interest rates, and rising living costs exerting pressure on household budgets, many individuals may prioritize essential spending and lower-risk savings over speculative assets like crypto investments which are seen as risky investments. When this happens, such crypto investments may be scaled back or even avoided altogether.
Even as ownership declines, according to YouGov poll results, interest in crypto has not disappeared entirely. Awareness remains high and some users continue to engage with digital assets for specific uses such as long-term investments, technology experimentation or international transfers. While younger demographics show greater levels of enthusiasm compared with older age groups, participation has softened across most segments.
Industry analysts advise against misinterpreting data as evidence of permanent decline. Instead, they characterize this phase as one of maturation: periods of lower participation often follow speculative peaks; analysts have pointed out that this indicates the market transitioning away from hype-driven growth towards measured, utility-focused adoption.
The decline in ownership reveals a broader shift in the crypto narrative. Instead of rapid mass adoption, focus has increasingly shifted toward regulation, infrastructure and real-world use cases such as payments, tokenization and blockchain-based financial services – rather than immediate visible increases in retail ownership but instead creating sustainable growth over time.
Policymakers and industry alike can take heart from this poll as it highlights the necessity of balanced regulation aimed at safeguarding consumers without impeding innovation. Furthermore, for policymakers it serves as a reminder that trust, transparency and practical value are critical factors in rebuilding confidence among their audiences.
As the UK cryptocurrency market adapts to new realities in 2025, YouGov findings reveal that even though fewer people currently hold digital assets, conversation regarding cryptocurrency remains active rather than diminishing. Rebound in ownership may depend on market stability, regulatory clarity and its ability to show lasting relevance beyond speculation.
