Crypto Ownership is Growing in Europe: Who is Investing the Most?
Crypto had a bumpy year in 2025. One major event was a big drop in prices when US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on China in October. Despite this, over the longer term, crypto ownership is increasing across Europe.
A large number of Europeans are aware of crypto. More than 90% of adults in major European countries know about cryptocurrencies or crypto-assets, according to the ‘Web3 Industry in France and Europe’ report by Adan, which used data from early 2025.
Even though the value of crypto has gone up and down in 2025, more Europeans are buying and holding it. A survey by the European Central Bank shows that in 2024, 9% of adults in the eurozone owned crypto-assets. Ownership varies between countries. For example, 6% of adults in the Netherlands and Germany owned crypto, while in Slovenia it was 15%. Other countries with high ownership include Greece, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, and Austria. However, the differences between countries are generally not very large.
Why Some Countries Lead in Crypto Ownership
James Sullivan, chief risk and compliance officer at BCB Group, told Euronews Business that differences in crypto ownership between countries usually depend on three main factors: digital adoption, willingness to take risks, and the local market structure.
He explained that countries with advanced financial systems and a younger, mostly male investor base tend to have higher crypto ownership. Local rules and economic conditions also matter. In places where traditional investment options are limited, people may turn to crypto as a speculative investment. Awareness campaigns, like those in Italy, can also encourage more people to invest.
The UK, while not part of the eurozone, also shows strong crypto activity. In 2024, it ranked third in the world for crypto transactions, after the US and India, according to Sullivan.
Crypto Ownership Has More Than Doubled
Crypto ownership has increased in almost every eurozone country between 2022 and 2024. The only exception was the Netherlands, where the rate stayed the same. Data for Croatia in 2022 is not available. Across the eurozone, crypto ownership went up from 4% in 2022 to 9% in 2024. This shows that interest in crypto has more than doubled in just two years.
In short, while crypto prices have had ups and downs, more Europeans are learning about and investing in cryptocurrencies. Some countries, like Slovenia and Greece, are leading the way, but most European countries are seeing a steady increase in ownership. Factors such as age, gender, digital adoption, risk appetite, and local economic conditions all influence how much people invest in crypto. Awareness campaigns and limited traditional investment options can also drive adoption.
Europe’s growing interest in crypto shows that even during times of market uncertainty, people are still curious about digital assets and willing to take part in this new type of investment.
Greece and Lithuania saw the biggest increases, each rising by 10 percentage points. Cyprus, Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal, and Italy also went up by 7 points or more.
James Sullivan said this rise shows that Europeans are becoming more interested in crypto again, and past worries about the “crypto winter” are fading.
He told Euronews Business, “People are more confident now because global markets are picking up and because of the consumer protections under the MiCA regulation.”
MiCA sets common EU rules for crypto, covering assets that aren’t currently regulated by existing financial laws.
“MiCA shows that the EU sees crypto as mainstream, which builds trust and attracts new investors who were previously cautious,” Sullivan added.
Crypto mainly for investment
Most people use crypto as an investment. In the eurozone, 64% of holders say they invest in crypto, while only 16% use it for payments. Another 19% use it for both.
The Netherlands (90%) and Germany (82%) have the highest share of crypto users who invest, even though fewer people in these countries own crypto overall. France has the highest share of people using crypto for payments (25%).
Market still mostly for investment
Sullivan noted that because most people use crypto for investment rather than payments, the market is still mostly speculative.
“Cryptos, especially stablecoins, can be useful for transactions, but most people still prefer cards and cash for daily use,” he said.
He added that even though big institutions are adopting crypto, most Europeans are not using it for everyday payments.
“The long-term success of crypto as a payment method depends on MiCA regulating euro-based stablecoins well and making them work smoothly with existing payment systems. This is a main focus for the ECB,” Sullivan explained.
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