Abstract

We report results from a large-scale survey of American households to better understand the nature and drivers of cryptocurrency ownership. The sample includes 1,774 individuals on which data is gathered by the Survey Research Center at the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. We obtain data on crypto ownership and ownership intent alongside a comprehensive suite of attributes. Crypto ownership is related to several variables including demographics, psychological traits and attitudes measured through psychometric tests, literacy, gambling preferences, financial participation and decision-making, political views, and other potential enablers such as regulations, trust, more widespread usage including by different institutions. We discuss the implications for crypto regulation and policy.