Financial Regrets
More than 40% of Australian Gen Zs and Millennials say their biggest financial regret of the past decade is not buying cryptocurrency early – especially Bitcoin when it traded for around US $400.
That’s one of the findings from Swyftx’s 5th Annual Crypto Survey, conducted in July 2025 with polling firm YouGov and involving 3,009 respondents. Nearly half of under-35s said missing the “crypto boat” ranked as their top investment regret of the past 10 years – ahead of not buying property or shares in tech giants like Apple and Amazon.
Only four per cent of Gen Zs and Millennials said they’re happy with their investment choices from a decade ago, compared with 12 per cent of Boomers and 20 per cent of Australians over 70.
Flatlined Ownership – and Falling Trust
Despite the ongoing hype, crypto ownership in Australia has barely moved in the past year, with around one in five Australians saying they hold digital assets – roughly the same as in 2024. Swyftx’s data shows that trust in crypto has actually worsened, with the net “lack of trust” score rising to 60 per cent (from 57 per cent last year).
Even so, Gen Z stands out with roughly a third (34 per cent) of this cohort owns Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency – far higher than any older generation.
“An unprecedented number of young Australians have turned to emerging asset classes as a means of diversifying their investments,” said Swyftx CEO Jason Titman. “There is now no question that Gen Zs and Millennials are more comfortable owning intangible assets than other generations.”
The survey also found that 46 per cent of non-crypto investors cited “lack of regulation” as the main reason they’ve stayed on the sidelines – reinforcing that confidence may hinge on clearer rules.
From Missed Opportunity to Motivation
Back in 2015, Bitcoin hovered between US $172 and $465 during the tail end of a bear market. Ten years on, it’s trading above US $107,000 – a 23,000% gain.
No wonder younger Australians feel they missed out – but they’re also the ones most likely to use crypto today to supplement income or build long-term portfolios.
Among those who profited last year, Gen Zs reported average gains of nearly $10,000.
“Our Gen Z clients have longer investment horizons and aren’t overly concerned about the annualised volatility of Bitcoin and other crypto assets,” a Swyftx spokesperson said.
Housing Hopes and High Beta Assets
With Australia ranked the sixth most expensive property market globally, younger Australians are feeling locked out – and looking for alternatives.
“Young people are totally disconnected from the traditional Australian dream of owning their own home, and Bitcoin represents an opportunity to get ahead,” Titman said.
According to Swyftx, there’s a growing belief that a diversified portfolio now needs some exposure to ‘high-beta’ assets like crypto. If trends continue, the exchange predicts that within a few years, crypto will overtake equities as the preferred investment for Gen Zs and Millennials.
Regulation on the Horizon
Momentum could accelerate once Australia finalises its digital-asset legislation. In September, the federal government released draft laws that would regulate crypto exchanges and custodians under the existing Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) framework.
The proposal introduces two new categories to the Corporations Act – digital-asset platforms and tokenised-custody platforms – aligning them more closely with traditional finance.
Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the framework would “introduce a new regime for digital-asset businesses in Australia … by extending existing financial-services laws in a targeted way.”
Meanwhile in the US, crypto regulation is gathering pace under President Donald Trump, with the GENIUS Act (stablecoin regulation) passed earlier this year and the CLARITY Act (a broader market-structure bill) now before the Senate.
Stocks vs Crypto: The Gap Narrows
Since 2022, the gap between young Australians planning to buy stocks versus those planning to buy crypto has halved.
“Millions more investors will enter the market when it’s properly regulated,” said a Swyftx spokesperson. “We can already see the halo effect of regulatory certainty in the US, where major banks like Morgan Stanley are entering the market.”
Titman added that within two years, younger investors could be just as likely to buy Bitcoin as traditional shares, provided those regulatory foundations are in place.
The Final Buzz
Younger Australians aren’t just chasing FOMO – they’re looking for a fairer shot at financial growth in a system they feel shut out of. With better regulation and growing comfort in digital assets, the next decade may see crypto move from risky bet to mainstream portfolio staple.
(Source: Swyftx 5th Annual Crypto Survey | Q3 2025 Industry Report)
Stay safe. Stay smart. Be Crypto Safe.
Education is your best defence. Unlock member-only guides, checklists, and tools designed to protect your crypto, stay safe and be compliant.
