Holders reported a stronger sense of security and control over their money. Two out of five (42%) say crypto has given them that feeling, up from 35% in 2025. A seven-point jump in a single year on the specific feeling of being in charge of your own finances.
- 54%Say crypto has increased their financial independence (up from 49% in 2025).
CRYPTO'S POSITIVE IMPACT ON LIFE
When asked how crypto makes them feel about their financial lives, four out of five (83%) users said proud, 81% said confident, and 78% said empowered. Three out of four users also reported having a positive overall experience with crypto and feeling safe. Compared to the 3% of users who have had negative experiences.
For many holders, the motivation centers on practical empowerment. Crypto offers additional ways to save, send, and spend, creating flexibility across different parts of financial life. That flexibility resonates across income levels and industries, which helps explain why the holder base has broadened so significantly.
The growth in the number of holders who cite learning and personal growth warrants attention in its own right. Crypto has become a gateway into financial literacy more broadly. People who start by learning what a blockchain is often end up learning about inflation, diversification, and how payment systems work. The technology helps people gain a deeper understanding of their finances, a benefit that extends well beyond any single transaction.
People are motivated by outcomes they have already experienced, and that kind of reinforcement sustains long-term adoption.
HISTORY REPEATING
Three decades ago, cell phones were expensive, clunky, and associated with a narrow slice of the population.
The technology was dismissed as a luxury, then as a gimmick, and then one day it was in everyone's pocket.
The arguments against crypto in 2026 carry a similar rhythm. Too complicated. Too risky. Just hype and speculation. In each generation of consumer technology, doubt has coexisted with early adoption. And in each case, adoption expanded as the technology became more useful and embedded in daily routines. The doubt got quieter because the technology proved its value through ordinary, repeated use. Crypto is on that same path.