European investors view cryptocurrency as a more attractive wealth-building asset than traditional retirement plans, according to a survey of 1,932 crypto-invested adults across the US and five European countries conducted by OKX from October 14–18.
The divide is stark. In Europe, 19% of respondents selected crypto for lasting wealth creation, compared to just 8% who chose traditional retirement plans. In the US, the preference reversed: 21% chose retirement accounts versus 12% for crypto. Real estate topped both regions at 34% across all respondents.
The generational split is equally pronounced. Among US investors excluding boomers, 55% expect to increase their crypto allocation over the next five years, with 22% planning a significant increase. But 65% of American boomers say crypto is not important to generational wealth. European boomers are less dismissive; 44% hold that view.
Younger Europeans show particular conviction. A May 2026 survey by Friends of Europe found that 43% of Europeans age 18–35 expect pensions to fall short, fueling interest in alternative assets. Overall, 51% of all age groups surveyed by OKX expect to increase their crypto allocation, while 47% of European investors plan to boost holdings.
“When investors under 45 on both sides of the Atlantic treat crypto as part of their long-term wealth, it tells you crypto is now part of how people look at their finances,” said Erald Ghoo, CEO of OKX Europe.
Regulatory backdrop
The survey arrives amid a US policy clash over crypto in retirement accounts. In August 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding alternative assets in 401(k) plans. The following March, the Department of Labor issued a draft proposal to broaden crypto access in workplace retirement plans.
That proposal drew pushback. In June 2026, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Representative Bobby Scott urged the DOL to withdraw it, citing volatility concerns. According to an August 2025 survey by the National Institute on Retirement Security, 77% of Americans view crypto in workplace retirement plans as risky, and 46% view crypto as very risky overall.
The OKX survey underscores a transatlantic gap in how investors assess crypto’s role in long-term financial security. European markets show greater openness to crypto as a core holding, while US skepticism, particularly among older cohorts, remains entrenched despite policy moves to facilitate access.
