Fewer people in the UK are holding crypto this year than last, while the “typical value of investors” rose, a report by the country’s financial watchdog has found.
The drop means the number of people who own crypto fell from around 7 million last year to around 4.5 million this year. But awareness of cryptocurrencies among the UK population remained at 91%, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said in its Cryptoassets Consumer Research 2025 report.
“Overall, the percentage of the UK adult population currently holding crypto assets has fallen from 12% in 2024 to 8% in 2025,” the FCA said.
The findings were published as the FCA simultaneously began a consultation on proposed crypto rules under a new regulatory framework as the regulator moves to expand oversight of the sector.
Despite the drop, the FCA noted that crypto ownership in the UK “is still double the proportion that reported owning crypto assets in 2021”.
While the report found that fewer UK consumers now own crypto, those who remain invested appear to have larger amounts. About 21% said they hold between 1,001-5,000 pounds ($1,345-$6,720).
The regulator found a shift towards higher average holdings, where the average value per holder increased to just under $2,500 compared to last year’s $2,300. Crypto held by people in the UK amounted to $17.3 billion, according to an October report by the Financial Times.
Bitcoin and ether remain the most popular cryptocurrencies among UK holders according to FCA research, with BTC held by around 70% of crypto investors and ETH by around 35%. Despite declining participation, investors continue to concentrate their exposure in the two largest digital assets.
