Younger Americans Trust Crypto Far More Than Banks, OKX Survey Finds

An OKX survey released on January 21, 2026, reveals a stark generational divide in the United States regarding trust in cryptocurrency platforms.

Generational Trust Scores (Rating 7+)

The data shows that younger generations—Gen Z and Millennials—are far more trusting of crypto platforms than Baby Boomers, who remain predominantly anchored to traditional financial institutions.

Generation	High Trust Score (7+)	Trust in Traditional Banks
Gen Z	40%	~20% (Low Trust)
Millennials	41%	~20% (Low Trust)
Baby Boomers	9%	74%

Survey Highlights

Bullish Outlook: 40% of Gen Z plan to increase trading in 2026, vs. 11% of Boomers.
Value Split: Younger users value security and transparency; Boomers prioritize regulation and legal protection.
Future Outlook: Over 50% of Gen Z/Millennials believe crypto will rival traditional finance.

“The trust gap is fundamentally about how different generations define trust. Younger generations see crypto as secure, innovative, and increasingly inevitable.”