A new poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indicates that while the user base decreased, the value of assets held has increased. The study reveals that cryptocurrency ownership in the UK dropped to 8% in 2025, however, existing investors are consolidating larger capital positions within the market.
The collected data, based exhaustively on 2,353 interviews conducted between August 5 and September 2, evidences a contraction in general retail adoption compared to the previous year. However, this current figure remains double the 4% registered in 2021, indicating that, despite the recent drop, there is a core of resilient users remaining stable and active in the face of the digital market’s historical volatility.
Additionally, the report cites a continuing trend in holdings, where small-value ownership is decreasing while large-volume investments are growing significantly among adults. According to the revealed statistics, 21% of respondents claimed to hold between $1,343 and $6,708 in digital assets, demonstrating a much deeper financial commitment and greater capital allocation by investors remaining in the ecosystem.
On the other hand, among those who claimed to keep digital assets in their portfolios, the leading cryptocurrencies by market capitalization continue to widely dominate British investor preferences. Approximately 57% said they owned Bitcoin and 43% claimed to have Ether, while cryptocurrency ownership in the UK related to altcoins like Solana reached a respectable 21% among holders, outperforming other smaller-scale projects.
Investor Profile Evolves Towards Financial Sophistication
The FCA officially commented that more people are moving away from small holdings to make larger investments, signaling a clear evolution in behavior within the digital economy. The regulator added that those participating in lending tend to be more knowledgeable and risk-tolerant, showing greater awareness of official warnings and market mechanisms than the average crypto user from previous years.
These findings were made public simultaneously with the launch of three crucial consultations on market rules for exchanges, staking, and decentralized finance by the regulatory body. The FCA asked for formal feedback from relevant entities before February, advancing decisively in the UK government’s efforts to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework that effectively oversees the sector and provides legal certainty.
How Will Regulation Impact the Future Adoption Trend?
The decrease in the number of users, contrasted with the substantial increase in the value of assets held, suggests a market cleansing where only convinced actors remain. This could mean that the price of major assets stabilizes thanks to strong hands, reducing short-term speculative volatility and fostering a much more mature, professional investment environment less susceptible to panic.
Looking ahead, the consolidation of a clear regulatory framework could be the necessary catalyst to reverse the downward trend in the number of retail users. It is expected that regulatory clarity will attract cautious investors back to the ecosystem, strengthening the figures of cryptocurrency ownership in the UK and ensuring sustainable and protected growth for the financial industry in the coming years.
