Why are Zoomers so hooked on crypto?

Born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, today’s ex-teenagers, also known as Zoomers or Gen Z members, hold a lot of influential power, economically speaking. Bloomberg estimated Gen Z’s spending power at $360BN in 2023, while a recent report from the Bank of America Institute predicts it could spike from a current $2.7TN to a whopping $12.6TN by 2030. Figures are growing as more enter the workforce and their disposable income expands; though leaving unnoticed the fact that economic injustice and financial strain among many participants persist and could be spiking would be a pity.

The same institution found that this generation spends almost double their savings budget, indicating a rising financial struggle because of the high costs of living and the constant global problems caused by inflation and price increases. While mortgage prices have almost doubled, home prices have gained 5.7% in 2025’s first quarter on a year-to-year basis.

For many, crypto has turned from a speculative, hype-driven financial instrument into a currency with immense mainstream potential, one that might become the currency of the future. And it’s not only Bitcoin or the second-largest crypto, Ethereum, that are poised to dominate digital wallets; the tendency is to monitor the performances of more, well-established cryptos, from the Solana trading volumes to the XRP price prediction to the changing stablecoin liquidity.

Crypto is clearly here to stay; the question remains what aspects exactly draw those who previously had no knowledge of crypto to the market. Even better, where’s all that confidence in investing in crypto stemming from? Here, we’re exploring the cultural, technological, and financial forces that explain why Gen Z is in love with crypto.

Zoomers, the first to live entirely in the internet age

Gen Z is the first generation whose upbringing has been marked by the vast technological advances of portable digital devices and the internet from a young age, and this is the primary reason why they’re called digital natives. Most can’t recall a time before smartphones, social media, or online banking; all these aren’t convenient for them, they’re default. It’s plain obvious that digital money and value transfer would similarly become the standard, and the past years, marked by the presence of crypto, have demonstrated this theory. Encountering a financial tool that operates 24/7, exists inherently online, and runs entirely on their phone feels just natural, unlike the perceptions that Zoomers’ parents have.

Gen Z finds buying, sending, selling, and storing value in digital tokens convenient and intuitive, unlike millennials and other age categories, who would reflexively reach for their credit card, debit card, cash, and other traditional financial options. In fact, more studies show that more than five in ten Zoomers own some type of digital coin, a preponderance that makes them the most crypto-engaged demographic by far.

Lack of trust in traditional institutions

Zoomers are used to economic turbulence since they were around when the 2008 financial crisis debuted, during the political polarization that followed, and more recently, during the global pandemic that reshaped work and budgeting, to say the least. All these changed how Gen Z sees the world and cast a shadow over traditional institutions, making banks and governments appear untrustworthy and fragile.

Crypto, in contrast, offers the decentralized alternative that does away with all the intermediaries that used to have control over individuals’ financial decisions and holdings. Money no longer needs to be governed by such entities; instead, some of their power is returned to the individual. This independence appeals to a generation that’s skeptical of the “system”, and as of late, it has started to attract other age categories, too, with millennials in preponderance. For some, buying Bitcoin or Ethereum isn’t just an investment, but a statement of values and a way to enter an alternative financial network.

Financial empowerment appeals to anyone

Financial independence is both a goal and a necessity among Zoomers, who face rising living costs, student debts, and career uncertainty. Crypto markets are known for promising high returns and being accessible to anyone who has an internet connection and a mobile device.

Critics constantly draw attention to the risks, so Zoomers are quite knowledgeable about what to expect – at least, on paper. Many are drawn by the idea that a smartphone and a few cents open the door to a matchless world of investments that’s no longer limited to institutional investors, deep-pocketed entrepreneurs, fervent techies, etc. Crypto feels more democratic than Wall Street, especially as the new political administration has passed the order that lays the foundation for the guidelines that will allow investors to have crypto in their 401(k)s.

Social media has a weighty say

If Facebook resonated with Millennials, TikTok is hooked on and shaped by TikTok, with alternatives like Twitter (X), Instagram, and YouTube also contributing to their formation. Influencers are a big part of the crypto industry, making memes about “holding”, sharing tutorials on how to buy and trade tokens, celebrating their huge wins, and so on.

Their viral content just boosts crypto’s appeal and transforms it from a niche financial tool into a cultural movement and lifestyle that feels very newcomer-inviting. Crypto is not just about money, but community, identity, and with tokens, partaking in a space where inside jokes are simply not that classified and exclusive.

Flexibility and convenience make crypto a no-brainer.

Cryptocurrency transfers are instant, global, borderless, cheap, and regardless of the amount of value transacted – some achievements that are lacking when it comes to traditional money transfers. Gen Z looks for instant gratification in almost all the activities performed, and since they can order anything with just a screen tap, they won’t compromise on the rapidity of their transfers if they have a swifter choice that’s safe and easy. 

Traditional banks take days to process transactions and can eat into one’s budget, but crypto removes these stumbling blocks. And it’s not just about Bitcoin – stablecoins like USDT or USDC, for instance, allow Zoomers to send money across the world instantly and cheaply.