When you separate those who bought crypto for the first time in the past year from those who entered the market over the previous 15 years, the two groups look strikingly different. The newer wave is more likely to be female, with 42% of recent purchasers identifying as women compared to 34% among earlier adopters. The age distribution widened at both ends: 18% of new holders are between 18 and 24, up from 11% among earlier buyers, while 28% are 55 or older, double the 14% among those who bought between 2009 and 2024.
New holders are also less likely to have traditional 9-to-5 jobs (69% compared to 88% among earlier adopters), partly reflecting the rise of the gig economy and freelance work. The tech industry's share is shrinking, too: 11% of recent buyers work in tech, compared with 18% of those who bought between 2009 and 2024. Crypto's reach now extends well beyond the early-adopter crowd of developers and engineers.
These 12 million new holders are reshaping the overall crypto population.
- 18%18% are between 18 and 24, up from 11% among earlier buyers
- 28%28% are 55 or older, double the 14% among those who bought between 2009 and 2024
AGE GROUP
GENERATIONAL ADOPTION BREAKDOWN
Every generation has increased its crypto adoption except Millennials, who still make up nearly two-thirds of all crypto holders. The 12 million Americans who entered the market this year skew toward both ends of the age range, which evens out the share across generations.
WHAT HOLDERS EARN
THEY SPAN INCOME LEVELS
Legend
| 6% | $1M+ | |
| 4% | $500-$999K | |
| 37% | $150K-$499K | |
| 30% | $75K-$149K | |
| 23% | $75K or Less |
More than half of crypto holders earned less than $150,000 in combined household income, while nearly a quarter (23%) earn less than $75,000. For context, the median household income for married couples was approximately $128,000 in 2024, according to U.S. Census data. Crypto ownership is not concentrated at the top of the income ladder. It tracks with the middle of the American economy, where most people live and work.
WHERE HOLDERS WORK
THEY'RE EMPLOYED ACROSS INDUSTRIES
Legend
| 22% | Software / Computer Programming Services & Technology | |
| 4% | Food Services | |
| 5% | Medical / Healthcare | |
| 5% | Manufacturing | |
| 4% | Travel and Transport | |
| 8% | Finance | |
| 13% | Construction |
Technology still leads at 18%, though its share among newer holders is shrinking. But construction and manufacturing workers together account for over a fifth (21%) of holders, approaching the combined share of tech and financial services.
The usage patterns within those industries are where the story sharpens.
Manufacturing workers in particular shop with crypto at a higher rate than the general holder population: 48% use crypto for purchases compared to 40% overall, and 30% pay with crypto weekly, outpacing both the 20% overall average.
Construction workers also lean into crypto for payments and transfers. Nearly half (47%) send crypto to friends and family compared to 41% overall, and 37% accept crypto for business payments. They are also more likely to want crypto accepted at gas stations and convenience stores (46% vs. 39% overall).
The typical crypto holder in 2026 is as likely to be a construction foreman in Dallas as a software engineer in San Francisco.
They might earn $80,000 a year, and use crypto to pay a subcontractor or send money to a relative.
WHERE HOLDERS LIVE
The South accounts for 38% of holders, followed by the West at 27%, the Northeast at 18%, and the Midwest at 18%. The distribution mirrors the general U.S. population. Crypto adoption is not centralized in tech hubs or coastal cities; rather, crypto is spread across the country proportionally to the U.S. population.
REGIONAL BREAKDOWN OF HOLDERS