Only 9% of Americans Own Crypto Despite Trump's Push
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- Urban Institute survey of 3,000 adults found only ~9% of Americans currently own crypto, down from the 17% who have ever owned it, meaning nearly half of past investors have exited the market
- Bitcoin has fallen from roughly $125,000 in October 2025 to about $65,000 in late July 2026, shedding roughly half its value even as regulatory doors widened
- Trump's family businesses earned $1.4 billion from various crypto projects in 2025, per The New York Times, while his administration pushed ETFs, a national stockpile, and retirement-account access
- Federal Reserve data shows crypto usage may have peaked at 12% in 2021 versus 10% in 2025, a stark contrast with the roughly 62% of Americans who own stocks
- Trump's Labor Department proposed a rule that would ease legal barriers to adding crypto and other alternative investments to 401(k)-style retirement plans
- Current crypto investors cited diversification (45%) or interest in new technology (37%), while former investors were more likely to have bought chasing price and sold after losses, per the Urban Institute
Why it matters: The Urban Institute data shows the administration's crypto-friendly policies coincided with a price collapse from ~$125K to ~$65K and a shrinking retail base — only ~9% own crypto today, compared with 62% who own stocks — while Trump's family businesses collected $1.4 billion from the same projects the administration champions.
