Cryptocurrency Gains a Larger Role in Wealth Building as Investors Plan to Increase Digital Asset Holdings
Cryptocurrency is becoming an increasingly important part of how Americans think about investing and building wealth, with existing cryptocurrency investors showing strong intentions to increase their holdings over the coming year, according to Charles Schwab’s 2026 Modern Wealth Survey.
The annual survey examines Americans’ attitudes and behaviors surrounding saving, spending, investing and wealth creation. This year’s findings indicate that cryptocurrency is moving beyond the role of a niche investment for some investors and is increasingly being considered alongside traditional assets such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.
Among Americans who currently invest in cryptocurrency, six in 10, or 60%, said they plan to invest more in the asset class over the next 12 months. That represents the highest proportion among the investment categories measured in the survey.
By comparison, 56% of ETF investors expect to increase their ETF holdings, while 52% of stock investors plan to invest more in stocks. Among bond investors, 42% expect to increase their holdings, while 41% of mutual fund investors intend to invest more.
The findings point to continued interest in digital assets even as cryptocurrency remains an investment category that many Americans associate with elevated risk and volatility.
Cryptocurrency Becomes More Familiar to Americans
Cryptocurrency has also achieved a broad level of awareness among the U.S. population.
According to the survey, nine in 10 Americans are familiar with cryptocurrency. Among those familiar with the asset class, 52% believe cryptocurrency is important or essential to building wealth.
Another 43% expect cryptocurrency to become a more popular investment in the future, while 27% view digital assets as a complement to traditional investments.
These findings suggest that cryptocurrency is increasingly being discussed within the broader context of portfolio construction rather than exclusively as a standalone speculative asset.
The growing familiarity with cryptocurrency may also be contributing to a broader discussion about how digital assets can fit within long-term financial strategies. Investors are considering not only whether to own cryptocurrency but also how different types of digital assets could interact with traditional investments.
One in Five Americans Currently Own Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency ownership has also expanded beyond a relatively small group of investors.
The survey found that 21% of Americans overall currently own cryptocurrency. An additional 23% do not currently own cryptocurrency but are interested in doing so.
Among Americans who identify as investors, cryptocurrency ownership is even higher, with nearly half, or 47%, saying they currently own digital assets.
The combination of current ownership and future interest suggests a potentially significant pool of Americans who are considering entering or increasing their participation in the cryptocurrency market.
For those who own or are interested in cryptocurrency, long-term growth potential is the leading reason for considering the asset class. Thirty-six percent identified long-term growth potential as a reason for their interest.
Another 33% cited cryptocurrency’s potential role in a diversified portfolio.
This indicates that some investors are evaluating cryptocurrency not simply on the basis of short-term price movements but as one component of a broader investment strategy.
Investors Increasingly View Cryptocurrency as a Portfolio Complement
Among current cryptocurrency owners, half, or 50%, said cryptocurrency works alongside their traditional investments.
The finding is significant because it suggests that many cryptocurrency investors do not necessarily view digital assets as a substitute for conventional investments.
Instead, cryptocurrency can be positioned alongside stocks, bonds, ETFs and other assets within an overall portfolio.
Confidence among current cryptocurrency owners is also relatively high. More than eight in 10, or 84%, said they are confident that they hold the right amount of cryptocurrency.
That confidence may reflect greater familiarity with the asset class among existing investors, as well as the growing availability of educational resources and investment products designed to provide exposure to digital assets.
At the same time, the survey does not suggest that all Americans are comfortable with cryptocurrency. Risk perceptions and concerns about fraud, regulation and understanding how the technology works remain significant barriers.
Younger Investors Drive Cryptocurrency Momentum
Younger generations appear to be playing an important role in cryptocurrency’s growing adoption.
Millennials were the generation most likely to own cryptocurrency, with 33% reporting current ownership. That compares with just 8% among Boomers.
Millennials were also the most likely generation to say they plan to increase their cryptocurrency holdings during the next year. Sixty-four percent of Millennial cryptocurrency investors said they expect to invest more.
Among Gen Z, 22% currently own cryptocurrency.
The generational differences highlight how attitudes toward digital assets can vary significantly based on age. Younger investors have generally entered financial markets during a period in which digital platforms, mobile investing and blockchain-based assets have become more visible.
Their willingness to explore cryptocurrency may also reflect greater familiarity with digital financial products and technology-driven financial services.
Joe Vietri, Head of Digital Assets at Charles Schwab, said existing cryptocurrency investors are particularly inclined to increase their exposure, with younger investors contributing significantly to the interest surrounding the asset class.
“Existing cryptocurrency investors are certainly leaning in, particularly younger investors who are driving much of the interest and momentum in cryptocurrency,” Vietri said.
He added that an important development is the growing perception of cryptocurrency as a complement to traditional investments.
Rather than treating cryptocurrency as an isolated position, investors are increasingly considering its potential role within broader portfolios and evaluating how it may align with their financial objectives.
Risk Remains a Major Consideration
Despite increasing adoption, Americans continue to recognize that cryptocurrency carries significant risks.
More than half of Americans familiar with cryptocurrency, or 52%, rate it as a high-risk investment. That was the highest risk rating among the investment categories included in the survey.
The perception reflects one of the central challenges facing digital assets. Cryptocurrency prices can experience significant fluctuations, and investors can face risks associated with market volatility, fraud, cybersecurity and regulatory uncertainty.
For investors who do not currently own cryptocurrency, concerns about scams and fraud are the most commonly cited barrier.
Nearly half, or 48%, identified scams or fraud as a concern.
Another 39% said they do not understand how cryptocurrency works, while 34% pointed to a lack of regulation.
These findings demonstrate that increased awareness does not necessarily translate into universal confidence.
Education Remains Critical for Potential Investors
The survey’s findings suggest that education could play an important role as cryptocurrency becomes more familiar to a wider range of investors.
Different generations identify different obstacles.
Boomers were the most likely to cite scams or fraud as a barrier, with 54% identifying that concern. Gen Z, meanwhile, was the generation most likely to say they do not understand how cryptocurrency works, at 45%.
The differences suggest that investors may require different types of information depending on their experience and familiarity with digital assets.
For some investors, understanding security and fraud risks may be the primary concern. For others, learning how blockchain technology, cryptocurrency markets and digital asset products operate may be more important.
Vietri emphasized the importance of education and risk management as more Americans become involved with cryptocurrency.
“As more Americans engage with cryptocurrency, education and risk management remain essential,” he said.
The availability of educational information could become increasingly important as investors consider not only direct cryptocurrency ownership but also exchange-traded products, cryptocurrency-related stocks, stablecoins and tokenized assets.
Investors Are Considering Multiple Digital Asset Categories
The survey also shows that interest in cryptocurrency extends beyond directly purchasing well-known digital currencies.
Among Americans familiar with cryptocurrency, 44% either currently own or are interested in directly owning widely recognized cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Cryptocurrency-related stocks are another area of interest, with 39% either currently owning or expressing interest in these investments.
Cryptocurrency exchange-traded products and mutual funds attracted similar interest, with 37% of respondents either currently owning or interested in owning these types of investments.
The range of options demonstrates how investors can gain exposure to the digital asset ecosystem through different structures.
Direct ownership provides one approach, while publicly traded companies associated with cryptocurrency and professionally managed investment products provide other potential avenues.
Stablecoins and Tokenized Assets Attract Attention
Interest also extends to newer segments of the digital asset market.
Nearly four in 10 respondents familiar with cryptocurrency, or 37%, either currently own or are interested in owning stablecoins.
Stablecoins are designed to maintain a relatively stable value, typically by referencing a fiat currency or other assets. Their potential applications extend beyond investment and can include payments, transfers and other financial activities.
Tokenized assets are another emerging area. Nearly one-third, or 31%, of respondents familiar with cryptocurrency either currently own or are interested in owning tokenized assets.
Tokenization involves representing ownership or claims to assets through digital tokens, potentially creating new ways to access, transfer or manage financial and real-world assets.
The survey findings indicate that Americans’ interest in digital assets is therefore broader than conventional cryptocurrencies alone.
Cryptocurrency Could Become More Common in Payments
The potential role of digital assets may also extend beyond investing.
Among survey respondents familiar with cryptocurrency, 35% believe cryptocurrency will become a more common payment method over the next five years.
This reflects continued interest in the potential use of blockchain-based assets for transferring value and conducting transactions.
The development of cryptocurrency payment infrastructure, stablecoins and other digital financial technologies could influence how consumers and businesses think about digital payments in the years ahead.
However, widespread payment adoption would also depend on factors such as regulatory frameworks, merchant acceptance, transaction infrastructure, consumer protection and ease of use.
Digital Assets Enter the Broader Wealth-Building Conversation
The findings from Charles Schwab’s 2026 Modern Wealth Survey point to a cryptocurrency market that is increasingly being considered within the broader wealth-building conversation.
Six in 10 current cryptocurrency investors expect to increase their holdings during the next year, while nearly half of investors already own cryptocurrency. Younger investors are particularly active, with Millennials reporting the highest ownership rate and the strongest intention to increase their exposure.
At the same time, the survey highlights the continuing challenges facing digital assets. More than half of Americans familiar with cryptocurrency view it as high risk, while concerns about fraud, limited understanding and regulation remain major barriers to adoption.
The combination of growing interest and persistent concerns suggests that the next stage of cryptocurrency adoption may depend not only on market performance but also on investors’ ability to understand the risks, available investment structures and potential role of digital assets within diversified portfolios.
Vietri said Schwab’s focus is helping investors understand their choices as the digital asset market develops.
“Helping clients navigate new ways to invest has always been part of Schwab’s history,” he said. “As digital assets become more mainstream and innovation continues, our focus is helping clients understand their choices, build portfolios aligned with their goals and make informed decisions about their financial futures with confidence.”
As cryptocurrency becomes more familiar to American investors, the asset class appears increasingly connected to broader discussions about portfolio diversification, long-term wealth creation and financial innovation. The survey suggests that for a growing number of investors, the question is no longer simply whether cryptocurrency exists within the investment landscape, but what role digital assets may play alongside more traditional forms of investing.
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