By Peter Curk, CEO of ICONOMI
We all know that cryptocurrency is the remit of the young. If you’re over 45, blockchain, decentralised finance, and digital wallets may not be something you spend much time thinking about. Crypto has been seen as rebellious, built on disruption and innovation, and of no interest to traditional investors.
But things have changed. It may only have been 16 years since Bitcoin first launched, but those original cool kids have now grown up, and so has everyone else, both inside and outside of the industry. While traditional investment still has a vital role to play, traditional investors are now open to the possibility that cryptocurrency, and the potential for a diversification of assets it brings, could hold worthwhile opportunities. And with crypto companies now offering greater accessibility, we’re seeing more mature investors coming to the fore.
A changing demographic
As the CEO of one of the newer generation of cryptocurrency companies, I’ve seen that investor demographic change for myself. And the interesting thing over the last five years has been that while the 35–44-year-old age group remains the largest customer segment for our company. It is comprising 35.5% of its user base, growth within this age range is beginning to level off. In contrast, the number of 55–64-year-old crypto investors has grown by 361%. And this could be a very good thing for the crypto asset space as a whole.
Why we need to encourage the non-crypto natives and mature investors
Due mainly to its tech background, there has always been a form of mystique surrounding crypto. In its first iteration, it was considered dangerous and completely unknowable, and that was often played up to by the companies that served the sector, building the exclusivity of the crypto investors’ club. But with exclusivity comes limitation, and growth becomes stunted.
When, instead, you build accessibility into the framework, as my company has sought to do, you open the space out a little, inviting new investors in. Our aim wasn’t necessarily mature investors, rather those deterred from entering the space through lack of technical knowledge. And technophobes come in all shapes and ages. But the benefits of attracting more mature and established investors are manifold.
You’ve not just got the increased capital and disposable income. Although that is clearly appealing for and valuable to any form of investment structure. Wealth has always been held disproportionately by older generations, and if crypto adoption accelerates here, the capital inflow could dwarf what we’ve seen so far. But, more importantly than that, older investors are generally more experienced and used to working with long-term horizons. This means that they’re less likely to make rushed decisions or to panic sell. This measured approach could be key to stabilising the crypto markets.
If the crypto space becomes less turbulent, and is embraced across generations, it will also begin to move closer to being accepted as mainstream finance rather than a fringe asset.
So, why is this move happening?
The first reason for this is that the crypto space is becoming more accessible. As I’ve already touched upon, companies like mine are working to remove the boundaries that first prevented wholesale adoption. And it’s not just an altruistic move. Because the wider the investor base, the stronger the crypto space becomes. So, when you make crypto asset investment more accessible, when you put in the effort to educate would-be investors, you create a sustainable digital ecosystem, free from the stagnation that had previously threatened the space.
Then, there’s the reassurance that comes from the move towards greater regulation. In the EU, we’ve already seen the introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, and the US has passed the Genius Act – it’s first move towards major national crypto legislation.
In the UK, fintech regulation is yet to happen, but the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has stated that new regulatory standards can be expected in 2026. And with more mainstream investment banks – BlackRock, Fidelity, Goldman Sachs – moving into the crypto space, there comes greater acceptance.
What does this mean for the established crypto players?
We’ve been talking so far about the increased numbers of more mature crypto investors, but what’s equally important is that this same investor base also has a tendency to be more active. In fact, in recent years, it’s been the age 65+ investors who have most frequently engaged with my platform, despite being the smallest investor group. And the 45-54s aren’t that far behind. So, this is something that crypto companies need to be aware of.
If more mature investors are more active, depositing larger amounts, and bringing stability and legitimacy to the space, the incumbents need to do more to bring them in. This means fresh positioning, enhanced user experience tailored towards the less technically minded, fresh marketing, and fresh design. But it also potentially means diversification in order to cater to both crypto natives and the new generation of incomers.
Cryptocurrency is growing up. It may still have some of the characteristics that made it the ‘bad boy’ of finance, but as the companies that power the sector mature, they’re realising that there’s only so much scope for growth when you’re working on the fringes. For crypto assets to develop a stable future, the sector needs to let go of a bit of style in favour of more substance, and creating pathways for the more mature and monied investor is a great place to start.
