According to data from crypto-focused surveys, digital currencies are gaining popularity worldwide.

What happened: A survey of 1,000 people conducted by NBC News found that one in five American adults have traded, invested or used cryptocurrency to complete a purchase, proof that there has been growth in the space and a signal that mass adoption is around the corner.

• While almost 20% of those polled have interacted with crypto, only 19% have a favourable view of digital currencies, and 25% said they have a negative outlook. 
• 56% said they have “neutral” feelings about the crypto industry.
• 50% of men aged 18 to 49 say they have “dabbled” in crypto in the US.

But a second survey on US crypto habits conducted by Gemini, the Winklevoss brothers’ crypto exchange, has a much larger pool of participants and shows some interesting emerging trends.

• The data showed that the average age of investors already in the space is 38, whereas the average age for those deemed “crypto curious” is 44. And of those “crypto curious,” 53% are women. 
• Another interesting takeaway is that men outnumber women as crypto investors across the board except in the 25-34 age range, where women are out investing men in crypto by 6%. 

The global market: The American attitude surrounding cryptocurrencies differs widely from the international perspective. Gemini’s Global State of Crypto report was compiled by surveying 30,000 people across 20 countries. 

• Over 40% of people surveyed purchased cryptocurrency for the first time in 2021, with many citing inflation as their primary motivation for investing in DeFi.
• The report found that the industry lacks accessible educational tools for the “crypto curious,” with 40% of people polled saying they would look to those resources compared to 22% who would take investment advice from friends. 
• Regulation seems to be a hurdle some people just can’t get over. In Asia, Latin America and Europe, almost 40% of people who don’t hold crypto cited “legal uncertainty” around crypto and government regulations as a concern. 
• The gender gap is closing on crypto. Of the people surveyed who said they would be investing in crypto this year, 47% were women. 

The big picture: While US respondents haven’t embraced crypto with wide-open arms, countries with less wealth seem to be betting on it as a more reliable currency. Indonesia and Brazil are top adopters, with 41% of those surveyed owning crypto, although both governments are pushing through regulations much quicker than the US and Europe.