64% of Millennial Crypto Owners Plan to Increase Holdings

Sixty-four percent of Millennial cryptocurrency owners plan to increase their holdings over the next 12 months, giving the group the strongest stated intention among the investor categories measured in Charles Schwab’s 2026 Modern Wealth Survey.

The figure reflects planned activity rather than completed purchases. Millennials also reported the highest cryptocurrency ownership rate among the age groups surveyed, at 33%, compared with 22% for Gen Z and 8% for Baby Boomers.

Across all current cryptocurrency investors, 60% said they expect to increase their holdings. That compared with 56% of exchange-traded fund owners, 52% of stock owners, 42% of bond owners and 41% of mutual-fund owners.

“Existing cryptocurrency investors are certainly leaning in, particularly younger investors who are driving much of the interest and momentum in cryptocurrency,” said Joe Vietri, head of digital assets at Charles Schwab.

The online survey was conducted by Logica Research from Aug. 24 through Sept. 17 among 2,000 Americans ages 21 to 75. The results were not weighted, and additional oversamples were used for comparisons.

Overall, 21% of Americans said they currently own cryptocurrency, while 23% said they do not own it but are interested in doing so. Among respondents familiar with cryptocurrency, 52% viewed digital assets as important or essential to building wealth, and 43% expected cryptocurrency to become more popular.

Among nonowners, the most commonly cited barriers were concerns about scams or fraud at 48%, a lack of understanding at 39% and insufficient regulation at 34%.

“But to me, the bigger story is that cryptocurrency is increasingly viewed as a complement to traditional investments,” Vietri said.