TL;DR

UK crypto ownership falls to 8% of adults, down from 12% in 2024.
Remaining holders concentrate larger portfolios, shifting towards higher-value balances.
Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate holdings, with Bitcoin regaining market share.

UK crypto ownership declined during 2025, even as remaining participants increased the size of their digital asset portfolios, according to new data from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The regulator’s Cryptoassets Consumer Research 2025 report shows that 8% of UK adults currently hold cryptocurrency, down from 12% one year earlier. The shift marks the first clear pullback in participation since adoption accelerated during the pandemic.

Despite the drop, ownership remains above early-cycle levels. In 2021, only 4% of adults reported holding crypto. The current figure still stands at roughly double that level, indicating contraction rather than a full reversal. The data describes a market with fewer participants and deeper capital commitment among those who remain.

Ownership patterns show stability across demographics

Report higher participation at 11%, while the 18–34 age group remains the core cohort, with 15% holding crypto. Public awareness remains high, with 91% of respondents stating familiarity with cryptocurrencies, matching levels seen in 2024. The survey also shows higher ownership among ethnic minority groups and higher-income households, based on responses from more than 2,300 adults nationwide.

Bitcoin continues to dominate holdings, owned by 57% of users, and posts a five-point recovery after several years of erosion. Ethereum follows at 43%, holding steady year over year. Other assets appear at much lower rates, with Solana, Dogecoin, XRP, and Cardano cited most often beyond the two leaders.

High-value crypto portfolios expand as small holders exit

Beneath the headline decline, the FCA data shows a clear redistribution toward larger balances. The share of users holding £1,001–£5,000 in crypto rose to 21%, up four points from 2024. Holdings in the £5,001–£10,000 range climbed to 11%, an increase of three points. At the same time, the proportion of users with £100 or less continued to shrink, extending a multi-year trend.

The regulator linked the widening gap between higher- and lower-value holders to motivations tied to longer holding periods. Most purchases rely on personal cash, with 76% using disposable income. A smaller share drew on long-term savings at 25%, while 19% used gains from earlier investments.

Access patterns also remained consistent

Centralized exchanges served as the primary gateway for 73% of UK users, an increase from the prior year. Coinbase and Binance remained the most used platforms, although Binance’s share declined.

The findings arrive as the UK advances regulatory clarity. During 2025, the government introduced legislation that places crypto activity under FCA supervision and recognizes digital assets as personal property under UK law. While full rollout extends toward 2027, the FCA has already accelerated approvals and opened consultations covering trading, staking, lending, and decentralized finance.

On a global scale, the UK ranked 11th in Chainalysis’ crypto adoption index, trailing India, the United States, Brazil, and Vietnam. The picture that emerges shows fewer participants, higher conviction, and growing regulatory structure shaping how crypto ownership evolves across the UK market.

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Filed under: News - @ December 16, 2025 9:29 pm