UK Cryptocurrency Statistics | 2026
- 8% of UK adults currently own cryptocurrency, down from 12% in 2024. FCA Dec 2025
- 91% of UK adults have heard of cryptocurrency, maintaining near-universal awareness. FCA Dec 2025
- Bitcoin remains the most popular cryptocurrency, held by 57% of UK crypto owners. FCA Dec 2025
- £649 million was lost to investment fraud in 2024, with crypto scams accounting for 66% of reports. Action Fraud Apr 2025
- The UK ranks 12th globally in the Chainalysis Crypto Adoption Index. Chainalysis Oct 2024
- Young men are most likely to own crypto: 15% of 18-34 year olds own cryptoassets. FCA Dec 2025
- How Many People Own Cryptocurrency in the UK?
- How Many People Own Bitcoin in the UK?
- Who Owns Cryptocurrency in the UK?
- How Much Do UK Crypto Owners Hold?
- How Much Money Is Lost to Crypto Scams in the UK?
- How Many Crypto Firms Are Registered with the FCA?
- How Does UK Crypto Adoption Compare Globally?
- Where Does This Data Come From?
How Many People Own Cryptocurrency in the UK?
8% of UK adults currently own cryptocurrency, according to the FCA's Cryptoasset Consumer Research 2025 (Wave 6), published December 2025. This marks a decline from 12% recorded in the 2024 survey.
The FCA notes this "is still double the proportion who reported they own cryptoassets in 2021" when ownership stood at 4%.
| Year | Ownership Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4% | — |
| 2021 | 4.4% | +0.4pp |
| 2022 | 10% | +5.6pp |
| 2024 | 12% | +2pp |
| 2025 | 8% | -4pp |
The FCA reports a "shift toward higher average holdings" among those who remain invested, with mean value per holder rising to approximately £1,842 (just under $2,500).
Why Do Different Sources Report Different Ownership Figures?
You may see significantly different UK crypto ownership figures cited elsewhere. This is due to methodological differences between surveys:
| Source | Ownership | Methodology | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCA Wave 6 | 8% | Nationally representative (n=2,353) | Dec 2025 |
| Finder/Censuswide | 9% | UK panel survey (n=2,000) | Jan 2025 |
| Gemini "State of Crypto" | 24% | Online survey, crypto-interested audience | May 2025 |
How Many People Own Bitcoin in the UK?
Bitcoin remains the most commonly held cryptoasset in the UK, owned by 57% of crypto users according to the FCA's 2025 research. This represents a 5 percentage point recovery from 52% in 2024.
| Cryptocurrency | % of UK Crypto Owners |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | |
| Ethereum (ETH) | |
| Solana (SOL) | |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | |
| XRP | |
| Cardano (ADA) |
Who Owns Cryptocurrency in the UK?
Cryptocurrency ownership in the UK varies significantly by age, gender, and socioeconomic factors.
What Is the Crypto Ownership Rate by Age?
What Is the Crypto Ownership Rate by Gender?
A significant gender gap persists in UK crypto ownership. Men (11%) are statistically significantly more likely to own cryptocurrency than women, according to the FCA.
What Is the Crypto Ownership Rate by Income?
The FCA reports that crypto owners are more likely to have a household income of £100k+ and be from higher social grades (ABC1). Individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds also show higher rates of crypto ownership.
How Much Do UK Crypto Owners Hold?
The FCA reports the mean value of crypto holdings per holder rose to "just under $2,500" (approximately £1,842) in 2025.
How Do UK Investors Fund Crypto Purchases?
| Funding Method | % of Crypto Buyers |
|---|---|
| Disposable income / savings | |
| Existing crypto (swapped) | |
| Sold other investments | |
| Credit card / overdraft |
How Much Money Is Lost to Crypto Scams in the UK?
£649 million was lost to investment fraud in 2024, according to Action Fraud and the City of London Police. Cryptocurrency scams accounted for 66% of all investment fraud reports.
How Do Crypto Scams Reach Victims?
Social media platforms were linked to 36% of all investment fraud reports:
| Platform | % of Social Media Reports |
|---|---|
Which Celebrities Are Used in Crypto Scams?
Fraudsters frequently impersonate trusted public figures. From 537 reports involving celebrity impersonation, Martin Lewis was used in 44% of cases.
The City of London Police reports that "over £10 million was lost in 2024 to fraudsters who convinced victims to invest by using an influential identity like Martin Lewis, Elon Musk or Jeremy Clarkson."
How Many Crypto Firms Are Registered with the FCA?
Since January 2020, when the FCA became supervisor of UK cryptoasset businesses for anti-money laundering purposes, the regulator has taken a stringent approach:
What Enforcement Actions Has the FCA Taken?
Since crypto financial promotions rules came into force on 8 October 2023, the FCA has:
- Issued 1,702 consumer alerts about potentially illegal crypto promotions
- Removed over 900 scam websites
- Taken down more than 50 fraudulent apps
When Will Full UK Crypto Regulation Begin?
In April 2025, the UK government announced plans for full regulation of the cryptoasset sector. Proposed measures include consumer protection rules for crypto trading platforms, stablecoin regulations, and requirements for overseas firms marketing to UK consumers.
How Does UK Crypto Adoption Compare Globally?
The UK ranks 12th globally in the Chainalysis 2024 Global Crypto Adoption Index, which measures grassroots cryptocurrency adoption across 151 countries.
The UK is the largest cryptocurrency economy in Central, Northern & Western Europe.
How Does UK Crypto Ownership Compare to Other Countries?
| Country | Ownership Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 25% | Triple-A 2024 |
| Singapore | 24% | Triple-A 2024 |
| United States | 14% | Triple-A 2024 |
| United Kingdom | 8% | FCA Dec 2025 |
| Germany | 6% | Triple-A 2024 |
What Is Global Crypto Ownership?
Triple-A estimates global crypto ownership at 6.8% of the world's population, or approximately 562 million people, as of late 2024.
Where Does This Data Come From?
This statistics page aggregates data from authoritative sources. All figures are cited with their original source.
Primary Sources
- 1 FCA Cryptoasset Consumer Research 2025 (Wave 6)View source
- 2 City of London Police / Action Fraud — Investment Fraud 2024View source
- 3 FCA Cryptoasset Register StatisticsView source
Secondary Sources
- 4 Chainalysis 2024 Geography of Cryptocurrency ReportView source
- 5 Triple-A "State of Global Cryptocurrency Ownership 2024"View source
- 6 UK Government — Cryptoasset Legislation AnnouncementView source
Have Questions About This Data?
For press enquiries regarding this research, please contact:
The Investors Centre
Email: info@theinvestorscentre.com
We welcome journalists and researchers who wish to cite this data. Please include a link to this page when referencing our statistics.
Last updated: January 2026 | Next scheduled update: January 2027
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