Poland Sees BTC and ETH Adoption Hit 6.4% as Digital Assets Gain Ground

A new study commissioned by the National Bank of Poland (NBP) reveals that cryptocurrency adoption among Polish adults has reached 6.4%, with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) leading the charge. The findings underscore a growing interest in digital assets as alternative investments, though they have yet to become mainstream portfolio staples. The report breaks down crypto investment scales, preferred coins like BTC and ETH, investor demographics, and the evolving market and regulatory landscape in Poland.

The scale of crypto investments in Poland

To accurately assess how many people in the country own cryptocurrencies, the National Bank of Poland partnered with research firm Ipsos. According to the survey, 6.4 percent of Polish adults—roughly 2.5 million people—own some form of cryptocurrency. The margin of error puts this proportion between 5 and 8.1 percent, suggesting a real figure between 1.9 and 3 million individuals.

The survey, conducted with a sample of 1,000, was widely reported in Poland’s main media outlets. Business newspapers Puls Biznesu and Super Biznes highlighted that these findings offer a more cautious perspective compared to earlier, potentially inflated, polls on crypto interest.

While survey results indicate that cryptocurrency investments are on the rise in Poland, they still do not constitute a primary investment preference for the wider population, according to the NBP.

The NBP’s report, grounded in skepticism about previous estimates, contrasts with other studies reporting significantly higher rates. A recent report titled “Cryptocurrency Adoption in Europe 2026” by fintech company ARI10 and USE Research found that over 10 million Poles—more than 35 percent of adults—hold digital assets.

This broader research surveyed more than 11,000 participants across 11 countries, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Norway. Still, the National Bank of Poland maintains its own, more conservative findings should be considered the benchmark.

Glossary: ARI10 is a licensed fintech company in the European Union providing digital asset payment and wallet/investment solutions. USE Research is a Netherlands-based analysis firm specializing in financial technology and market research.

Preferred cryptocurrencies among Polish investors

Polish crypto investors primarily favor leading, high-market cap digital assets. Bitcoin stands out as Poland’s top entry into cryptocurrency investing, with 3.5 percent of respondents holding BTC, followed by 2.2 percent with holdings in Ethereum. Another 3.1 percent report owning other altcoins.

Stablecoins, such as Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC and EURC, have a smaller footprint among Polish investors, with just 0.9 percent of survey respondents reporting ownership of these assets.

Crypto investor profiles

Researchers observed that the demographic profile of Polish crypto holders is broadly similar to those in other EU countries. Men are generally more likely than women to own digital assets, with young adults showing higher enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies compared to older age groups.

However, leading Polish crypto news portal Bitcoin.pl draws attention to a significant discrepancy between survey data and official filings. The outlet notes that only 20,000 Poles declared crypto assets in their 2023 tax returns, a figure far lower than the millions suggested in survey results.

Market and regulatory landscape

These findings emerge amid recent turmoil, including the suspension of a major cryptocurrency exchange’s license in Poland and the upcoming implementation of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which has injected additional uncertainty into the industry.

Polish regulators are working on new crypto legislation to harmonize the legal framework with EU standards. Against this backdrop, market volatility and the collapse of major players have heightened the importance of research into public crypto adoption.