Mass adoption of cryptocurrencies may not be a question of “if,” but “when.” One of the key catalysts could be a generational wealth transfer. That is the view of Zac Prince, head of banking at Galaxy One, part of Galaxy Digital, who discussed the topic on the Milk Road show.

According to Prince, a large share of capital is still controlled by older generations that tend to view crypto with caution. As wealth is gradually inherited, however, the preferences of younger investors will become far more influential — and they are significantly more open to cryptocurrencies.

Younger generations want to invest differently

“There is a lot of discussion about younger people being financially disadvantaged because most wealth is held by older generations,” Prince said. “But that situation is temporary. Once the wealth transfer begins, younger investors’ preferences will matter much more.”

Data supports this view. UBS estimates in its Global Wealth Report 2025 that Americans collectively hold $163 trillion in assets. More than half of that — $83.3 trillion — is owned by baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964.

Younger generations, however, are far more inclined toward crypto. Coinbase’s State of Crypto report for Q4 shows that around 25% of younger investors hold alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies, derivatives, or private investments. Among older investors, that figure is just 8%.

Technology as a natural bridge to crypto

Beyond capital transfer itself, younger generations’ technological fluency could further support crypto adoption. They are accustomed to intuitive apps, instant transactions, and complex financial services accessible within seconds.

Prince notes that modern investment platforms offer near-instant trading and multiple products in one place. “It’s a completely different world compared to traditional investing, where you had to call a broker or schedule a meeting with a financial advisor,” he said.

Boomers are warming up to crypto

Interestingly, older generations are no longer as resistant to crypto as they once were. A survey by Australian exchange CoinSpot found that 38.5% of Australians over the age of 60 are open to investing in cryptocurrencies, slightly above the national average.

An even stronger shift appears in data from Independent Reserve. Between 2019 and 2024, the share of people aged 65 and over who own cryptocurrencies tripled, reaching 6%.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-X-NiOI504

https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/global-wealth-report-09072025.pdf

https://www.independentreserve.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/independent-reserve-cryptocurrency-index-IRCI-australia-2024.pdf