Crypto Adoption May Accelerate as Wealth Shifts to Younger Generations — Galaxy Executive

Quick Breakdown

• Galaxy Digital’s Zac Prince says crypto adoption could surge as wealth shifts from older to younger generations.
• Younger investors are already three times more likely than older ones to hold crypto and other non-traditional assets.
• Surveys suggest boomers are increasingly open to crypto, hinting adoption may span generations.

Crypto’s long-awaited mass adoption may hinge less on regulation or technology and more on time.

That’s the view of Zac Prince, head of Galaxy Digital’s banking arm, Galaxy One, who says the gradual transfer of wealth from older generations to younger ones could significantly boost crypto adoption in the coming decades.

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Prince argued that as younger, more crypto-friendly investors inherit wealth, their financial preferences will begin to reshape global markets.

Wealth transfer could reshape investment trends

Prince pointed to the growing debate around generational wealth concentration, noting that older generations currently control a disproportionate share of assets.

“There’s a lot of talk about how younger people feel locked out while older generations hold most of the money,” he said. “But eventually, that wealth transfer happens, and when it does, younger people’s preferences start to matter more.”

According to UBS’ 2025 Global Wealth Report, Americans collectively hold about $163 trillion in wealth. Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, control more than half of that figure, accounting for roughly $83.3 trillion.

As those assets gradually move to younger heirs, Prince believes a portion is likely to find its way into crypto markets.

Younger investors show a stronger appetite for crypto

Data suggests that generational preferences already favour digital assets.

A Coinbase Q4 State of Crypto report found that younger investors are significantly more likely to hold non-traditional assets such as crypto, derivatives, and private investments. About 25% of younger traders reported owning these assets, compared with just 8% among older investors.

Prince added that younger generations’ comfort with technology gives crypto an additional edge. Modern investment apps offer instant execution, multiple products in one place, and intuitive interfaces, a stark contrast to traditional finance, which often requires phone calls or in-person meetings with advisers.

While younger investors lead the charge, signs suggest older generations aren’t entirely resistant to crypto.

Meanwhile, a 2024 survey from Independent Reserve showed that crypto ownership among Australians over 65 has been steadily rising, with participation tripling to 6% between 2019 and 2024.