U.S. Investor Sentiment on Cryptocurrencies Cools, FINRA Study Shows

American investors are showing diminished enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies, according to a recent study by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. Only 26% of investors now plan to purchase digital assets, down from 33% in 2021. Despite this decline in buying intent, 27% of investors continue to hold cryptocurrencies—a figure that remains unchanged from previous years.

The data reveals a paradox: while investors aren’t exiting the market en masse, their appetite for additional exposure has waned. The speculative frenzy of the pandemic era has faded, particularly among younger demographics. Participation rates for investors under 35 dropped from 32% to 26%, signaling a retreat from the cohort that once drove crypto adoption.

Risk tolerance has also diminished. Just 8% of investors now express willingness to take significant financial risks, down from 12% in prior years. New entrants to the market have dwindled, with only 8% of investors starting their crypto journeys recently—a sharp decline from 21% in the previous survey period.