The wave of crypto adoption is visibly hitting the younger generations harder, a report by crypto exchange OKX said on Wednesday. On the trust meter, 40 percent Gen Zs and 41 percent millennials said they trust crypto platforms. OKX said it surveyed a thousand Americans in January this year to compile this report titled, “The Crypto Age Gap”.
At present, the generations of Gen Zs (born 1997–2012) and Millennials (born 1981–1996) dominate the market landscape, where as Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964) represent the established older guard. These three generations currently shape the world society.
OKX, in its report said, only nine percent Boomers expressed trust on crypto platforms.
“Younger generations are 5x more trusting than their older counterparts. More than half of Gen Z (52 percent ) and Millennials (50 percent) believe crypto will eventually rival or surpass traditional finance as a dominant force,” the report said. “Among Boomers, only 28 percent share that optimism, with 71 percent convinced banks will remain the primary pillar of the financial system for years to come.”
The sense of distrust on traditional financial systems among the younger generations is acting like a catalyst nudging them to pivot to more private finance — that crypto offers by cutting intermediaries in P2P transactions.
“For Boomers, safety traditionally comes from regulation and institutional backing. For Gen Z, security is more hands-on and technical: being able to verify transactions, see how systems work, and reduce reliance on intermediaries,” said Roshan Robert, CEO, OKX US told Coin Headlines, commenting on the report.
The ongoing regulatory changes favouring have seemingly spiked the level on trust on crypto platforms. Countries are working to design consumer protection guardrails to protect investors against market ups and downs as well as hacks and scams.
As per the report, 36 percent of Gen Z and 34 percent of Millennials reported that their trust in crypto platforms had increased over the past year. In 2026, 40 percent percent of Gen Z and 36 percent of Millennials plan to increase their crypto trading activities. Meanwhile, only 11 percent of boomers have shown an inclination in foraying into the crypto trading sector.
“Trust is rising quickly, but surpassing traditional finance isn’t a single finish line. What’s happening faster than expected is behavioral change. Younger users are entering markets earlier, reassessing trust continuously, and moving capital more freely between platforms,” the Robert added, spotlighting that Boomers may still be very gradual in trusting crypto with their finances.
Over the last few years, OKX has expanded its international presence to regions like Australia and Singapore. This week, it said its card and OKX Pay services are being rolled out across the European Economic Area (EEA).