A senior executive at Galaxy Digital predicts a structural shift in the financial landscape that could accelerate cryptocurrency adoption worldwide, driven not by marketing or technology alone, but by demographics and intergenerational wealth transfer.
Zac Prince, head of Galaxy Digital’s banking arm Galaxy One, told The Milk Road podcast that older, more conservative investors will eventually pass on their wealth. These younger heirs tend to be more open to alternative assets, such as crypto, which will influence how that capital is allocated.
To break down his point for better understanding, the industry executive said that older generations demonstrate considerable doubt in venturing into the crypto industry. On the other hand, younger generations illustrate heightened interest in the industry.
Therefore, when the wealth of the older generations is passed down to younger generations, Prince expresses that part of this wealth will ultimately end up in cryptocurrencies. He also stressed that cryptocurrency’s global recognition is established in a matter of time.
Prince outlines the crypto exposure according to the age bracket
In a statement, the Galaxy executive highlighted that, “I see many discussions about how younger people are struggling because older people control most of the money.” Based on his argument, passing assets is certain, and once this act occurs, the preferences of the younger generation will be prioritized.
Following his statement, the Investment bank UBS made public its analysis of the global wealth study. According to their findings, the total wealth of US citizens accounts for approximately $163 trillion, with the baby boomers, individuals born between the end of the Second World War and the early 1960s, playing a significant role in this contribution, holding a total of about $83.3 trillion in assets.
Meanwhile, apart from Prince’s assertion, a Q4 State of Crypto report from crypto exchange Coinbase indicated that investors in the younger age bracket demonstrated an increasing urge to make more investments in cryptocurrencies when compared to older investors.
To support this claim, a survey was conducted, revealing that 25% of young investors reported owning non-traditional assets, such as private investments, derivatives, and cryptocurrencies. In contrast, only 8% of older investors held these assets.
Prince also addresses issues related to technology exposure. He noted that the increased exposure demonstrated by younger generations in the tech ecosystem compared to older generations could have a significant benefit for the crypto industry as a whole.
Technology plays a crucial role in the crypto industry
Regarding the impacts of technology in the crypto industry, sources have mentioned that recent developments in the ecosystem have increased the accessibility of immediate purchase and sale of digital assets through apps, making trading easier by offering various types of products in one place.
These technological developments have also integrated user-friendly designs, streamlining the transaction process, unlike the old method. This method initially required one first to contact a broker or schedule an appointment with a financial advisor before making these transactions.
Seeing its advantages in the industry, Prince commented that these trends are promoting their interests.
However, although recent surveys prove that older generations are hesitant to venture into the crypto industry, analysts pointed out a theme of change among these investors. This was after they discovered that the April 2025 survey conducted by Australian exchange CoinSpot on Australians in the over-60 age bracket indicated that some of these investors are willing to explore the crypto industry with significant investments in the future.
Notably, the older investors who made these assertions had surpassed the national average of 37.8%.
Moreover, a 2024 survey conducted by Australian exchange Independent Reserve showed that more Baby Boomers had begun to allocate funds to the crypto industry, with the percentage of investors over 65 holding cryptocurrency tripling from 2% in 2019 to 6% by 2024.
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Source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/young-heirs-could-drive-cryptos-adoption/
