- 54% of respondents say that feeling financially behind is one of the main reasons they take on greater investment risk, and another 27% consider it one factor among others.
- Only 16% say they are actively working to achieve long-term financial freedom, while the majority are focused on covering daily expenses or simply surviving.
- Cryptocurrencies are primarily seen as a wealth creation tool, with 39% citing faster wealth creation as their main reason for investing and only 6% pointing to FOMO.
According to data from CEX.IO, drawn from a sample of over 3 million users in over 150 countries, Generation Z is the fastest growing age group of active participants in the crypto markets. In 2025, unique users aged 18-25 who made any financial transaction on an exchange grew by 88% compared to 2024, while spot trading volume increased by 144% over the same period.
That growth raises an obvious question: What drives it? To find out, CEX.IO surveyed 1,200 Gen Z American adults ages 18 to 27.
Feeling Financially Behind Drives Risk Taking
More than half of the respondents (54%) said that feeling financially behind what they expected is one of the main reasons they take on greater investment risks, while another 27% He said that it is better to have cryptocurrencies than not and include them in a diversified portfolio.
This suggests that the majority of Gen Z cryptocurrency investors view taking investment risks, including investing in cryptocurrencies, as a response to their current financial situation.
But this is not a generation that invests with blind confidence. When asked about their financial prospects, Only 16% said they are actively working to achieve long-term financial freedom.. A much larger group (41%) said their main goal is simply to cover current expenses, while another 13% described themselves as being in “survival mode,” with too much financial pressure to think about building long-term wealth.
That same pattern appears in what prevents them from investing more. 37% said they fear losing money or making the wrong investment decision, while 29% said they don’t have enough extra money to invest.. Together, these findings suggest that their willingness to take risks is not driven by overconfidence, but by the need to improve their financial situation despite limited resources.
Generation Z perceives cryptocurrencies as a way to generate wealth faster
When asked why they invest in cryptocurrencies, the largest group (39%) said it offers a faster way to build wealth than traditional savings methods. Other 28% said cryptocurrency is simply one part of a diversified investment portfolio. Only 6% He pointed to social influence or FOMO as his main motivation.
Your investment choices reflect that mindset. When asked what they would realistically do with a hypothetical $1,000, 49% said they would split it between safer investments and riskier assets like cryptocurrencies rather than putting it all in one place. InOnly 13% said they would invest most or all in riskier assets, such as cryptocurrency and AI stocks.. This suggests that Generation Z is trying to balance the desire for higher returns with the need to manage risk.
Cryptocurrencies are part of a broader goal: financial independence
That same mindset extends beyond cryptocurrencies and shapes the way Generation Z thinks about money more broadly.
Although the majority of respondents stated that they receive some form of financial support from their parents, 41% said that their ideal situation would not involve any financial help, preferring to fend for themselves despite financial obstacles.
When asked to choose between financial comfort with family support or a more difficult path with complete freedom, 39% selected the most difficult path.. Another 26% want a gradual approach, suggesting that even those who accept help see it as temporary. Overall, 65% of respondents believe that parental financial involvement is something that should be minimized or eliminated entirely.
The same mindset shows up in your investment goals.
Nearly half (44%) expect cryptocurrencies to be one of the main ways to generate wealth in the next five years, while another 46% believe it will play at least some significant role. Taken together, the results suggest that Generation Z views cryptocurrencies less as short-term speculation and more as part of a broader effort to gain financial autonomy.
Where they are learning: AI and social media
Given that financial anxiety, it matters where Generation Z turns for guidance. When asked where they primarily get crypto-specific information from, 41% of respondents pointed to social media and online communities, while another 29% cited AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude. Together, that means 7 in 10 Gen Z cryptocurrency investors rely primarily on AI or social media when learning about digital assets.
The result broadly reflects the trends already identified in traditional finance. Wells Fargo’s 2026 Money Study Found Gen Z’s Use of AI for Financial Advice Is Underway approximately double the general population, in addition to a heavy dependence on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and online communities. Furthermore, a TD Bank survey found that adoption of AI for financial decisions is highest among Generation Z in 77%.
What stands out specifically in cryptocurrencies is that social media still outperforms AI. This may reflect the community-driven culture of cryptocurrencies, where new narratives and projects tend to emerge in online discussion before they reach mainstream financial coverage.
The key takeaway is that AI and social media appear to support an existing goal rather than create it. Only 6% of respondents said social influence was their main reason for investing. Instead, Generation Z appears to be using artificial intelligence and social platforms as research tools to help achieve a goal they already have: improving their financial situation.
What it means
The survey paints a picture of a generation approaching cryptocurrencies out of urgency rather than enthusiasm. Generation Z appears to be investing because they feel like they are running out of time to catch up, and cryptocurrencies seem to be one of the quickest avenues available to them.
That urgency shapes everything else. That’s why so many people are turning to AI tools and online communities for guidance instead of relying on traditional financial institutions. That is why independence from family support is as important as the return on investment itself. And that’s why his risk-taking seems more calculated than reckless. For many, investing is a response to financial pressure rather than overconfidence.
As Generation Z gains a greater share of the cryptocurrency market, understanding that pressure may be more important than tracking which assets or platforms they choose.
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