Business & Technology
bunq study finds UK women lag men in crypto investing
bunq has published research showing a sharp gender gap in crypto investing in the UK. The study found that women are far less likely than men to have invested in the asset class.
The figures suggest the divide is driven less by outright scepticism than by confidence, familiarity and trust. According to the survey, 21% of women in the UK have ever invested in crypto, compared with 37% of men, while nearly a quarter of women describe crypto as “masculine”.
That perception appears to coexist with a broader desire to build personal wealth. The research found that 82% of UK adults are actively trying to grow their wealth, yet only 29% have invested in crypto.
Among women, the barriers appear to centre on access and understanding. Women were almost twice as likely as men to say crypto feels inaccessible, and 35% said they would not know where to start if they wanted to learn about it, compared with 18% of men.
The findings come as many consumers reassess their finances in a difficult economic climate. More than half of Britons surveyed said current conditions make it more important to explore alternative investments such as crypto, while 70% of women and 59% of men said they were unsure about their financial situation.
Knowledge gap
For those who have stayed out of the market altogether, lack of knowledge was the main reason. Among people who have never invested in crypto, 65% said limited understanding was the main factor holding them back.
Clear guidance was the most commonly cited factor that could help non-investors take a first step. The survey found that 37% said it would make a difference, pointing to a market where interest may exist but practical support remains limited.
Trusted financial institutions also emerged as the preferred route for would-be investors. Some 43% said they would trust their bank most to help them invest in crypto, a higher share than those choosing crypto exchanges and trading platforms combined.
A further 21% said they wanted to enter the market through a regulated and familiar environment. This points to a credibility challenge for the crypto sector, which has often relied on specialist platforms and online communities to attract new retail users.
Risk and trust
The data also suggests that willingness to invest does not always match understanding among those already in the market. Men were twice as likely as women to say they invest in crypto without fully understanding it.
Among existing investors, banks ranked relatively low as a source of information. The survey found that 11% turn to social media and 12% to online forums, compared with 7% who rely on their bank.
That split underlines a tension in the market. Potential new investors appear to want regulated, familiar institutions to guide them, while many current investors still rely on less formal online channels.
bunq presents those trends as evidence that crypto has not yet fully crossed into the financial mainstream, despite growing public awareness. The company, one of Europe’s largest digital banks, argues that broader adoption will depend on whether consumers feel they can access crypto through services they already trust.
The UK figures form part of a wider survey of 7,000 respondents across seven countries, including the US and six European markets. The poll aimed to measure attitudes to crypto adoption, barriers to entry and differences in perception across demographic groups.
While the results focus on women’s lower participation, they also suggest a wider issue around financial education. If most adults want to grow their wealth but many avoid crypto because they do not understand it, the market’s next phase may depend as much on explanation as on price performance or product design.
One notable result is that the issue is not simply disinterest. The survey indicates that women’s lower participation reflects uncertainty about how to begin, rather than a lack of willingness to consider alternative investments.
For banks and fintech groups, that may create an opening to offer crypto access within familiar consumer finance apps. For the crypto sector itself, it raises questions about whether a culture shaped by jargon, self-directed research and online tribalism has narrowed its audience.
Joe Wilson, Chief Evangelist at bunq, said the company sees simplicity and trust as the key issues in bringing more consumers into the market.
“For years, the crypto industry has been building for insiders, but mainstream adoption is being driven by trust and simplicity, not complexity. Users are open to exploring new ways to put their money to work, but they want to do it in a familiar, safe and easy-to-use environment. At bunq, we’re building that bridge and making crypto accessible for anyone ready to take their first step,” Wilson said.
Forshaw Demolition is a family-owned business that has operated for 23 years and boasts more than 80 years of combined experience.
It provides services such as asbestos removal, industrial decommissioning, and the dismantling of concrete and steel structures, including road and rail bridges.
The company also delivers residential, city centre, and high-rise demolition projects.
The Forshaw website explains that the company takes on schemes right across the UK, usually valued between £10,000 and £2 million.
Forshaw Demolition enters administration after 23 years
Now, after 23 years in business, Forshaw Demolition has fallen into administration.
Richard Cole, Stephen Kenny, and Amy Lowden from KBL Advisory Limited were appointed joint administrators on July 24, according to The Gazette.
What happens when a company goes into administration?
When a company enters administration, it means that it is unable to pay expenses, debts, or other liabilities, according to SquareUp.com.
Companies House adds: “When a company goes into administration, they have entered a legal process (under the Insolvency Act 1986) with the aim of achieving one of the statutory objectives of an administration. This may be to rescue a viable business that is insolvent due to cashflow problems.
“An appointment of an administrator (a licensed insolvency practitioner) will be made by directors, a creditor or the court to fulfil the administration process.”
A statutory moratorium is put in place once a company enters administration, giving it “breathing space” to allow for financial restructuring plans to be drawn up free from creditor enforcement actions.
A company can continue to trade while in administration, but daily management and control are handed over to the administrators.
Companies House continues: “Within 8 weeks it is the administrators’ role to formulate administration proposals.
“Creditors are then asked to vote by a decision procedure to approve the administrators’ proposals.
“If the administration involves a sale of all or part of the company’s business, the proceeds (after the costs of the procedure) will be distributed to creditors in a statutory order of priority.”
Administration will end automatically after 12 months unless the administrator asks the court or creditors for an extension.
Through administration, a company can be:
- Rescued and passed back to the directors
- Enter liquidation
- Be dissolved
Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026
It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.
Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.
UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.
Whitbread recently confirmed it will be closing all its UK restaurants in September:
- Brewers Fayre (89 locations) – September 7
- Beefeater (106) – September 10
- Bar + Block – September 3
- Table Table – September 3
- Cookhouse + Pub – September 3
TG Jones and the British Heart Foundation will also both be closing around 150 stores across the UK.
Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:
Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:
Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:
UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out after being acquired by InPost.
It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.
It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.
Meanwhile, brands including Evans and Bodycare have returned to the UK high street this year after previously closing all their stores.
Which business/store closure in 2026 has impacted you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
Only a month remains until Brewers Fayre – a pub-restaurant business in operation since 1981 – is closed by owner Whitbread, with doors set to be shut across the country on September 7.
With 89 branches around the UK – including in Bicester – the family-friendly brand was well-known for its Sunday Carvery menu.
Earlier this year, it was announced that it and Beefeaters would be closing as Whitbread restructures its wider business.
READ MORE: UK loyalty scheme to end as 3,800 jobs lost and restaurants close
Beefeater will shut down all of its sites on September 10, including the branch at the Oxford South Milton Interchange.
Some of the properties housing the restaurants have been put up for sale while others will be incorporated into Travelodge branches, with 3,800 jobs being lost in the process, although Whitbread has said it will try to retain as many staff as possible.
Across the country, some Beefeater and Brewers Fayre eateries have already been switched over to Whitbread’s own in-house Thyme brand.
Others are being sold and closed with the cuts set to impact about 12 per cent of the company’s 30,000-strong workforce in the UK and Ireland working in its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants.
A statement was issued on the restructuring earlier this year in which it was announced a number of the restaurants would be converted into additional Premier Inn rooms.
A spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites.
“As a business which recruits around 15,000 people every year, we expect to be able to retain a significant proportion of those affected and will be looking to redeploy as many of our impacted colleagues as possible.
“However, we do anticipate that the proposed changes, which are subject to consultation, would result in a reduction of around 3,800 roles of a total UK and Ireland workforce of around 30,000.
“We will do all we can to support those colleagues affected.”
READ MORE: Over 3,500 jobs lost as UK restaurant chains list properties
In addition, Beefeater has also provided clarity on its loyalty scheme, publishing a deadline on its website.
A spokesperson said: “All points must be collected (or receipt details added) by Monday 24 August 2026 and then converted into your points-based vouchers and used by Monday 31 August 2026.”
With a loyalty card, customers could collect 5 points for every £1 spent and once 500 points have been earned, they would be able to claim either a £5 voucher, a free bottle of wine or 2 free starters or desserts.
Oxford Small Pet Boarding was funded by Megan Timms in 2020, after spotting a gap in the market for specialist boarding facilities dedicated to small pets.
Over the past six years, she’s built a successful business caring for beloved pets like rabbits and guinea pigs, mice, rats, birds, ferrets and tortoises.
READ MORE: M40 closed with two hour delays due to ‘serious’ crash
Now, however, Ms Timms is offering the established business up for sale to a new owner, and has put up a listing seeking another ‘passionate animal lover’ to take on the owner-operated, home boarding business.
“The decision to sell has not been an easy one and is not due to a lack of demand,” the founder explained.
“The business is currently based at a premises that can no longer accommodate the boarding facility because of changes to the landowner’s own business requirements.
“Rather than close the business altogether, I would love to see someone else take over and continue what has been built over the past six years.”
She was inspired to create the pet boarding business after working as a pet sitter, travelling between client’s homes to spend limited time caring for and interacting with their pets.
READ MORE: Helicopters join search as woman now missing for 60 hours
However, she felt small animals deserved ‘far more than basic care’, and created the full-time pet boarding set up so she could provide round the clock attention to the animals.
Included in the sale is the established branding, business name, website and social media accounts, the existing customer database, operating procedures and systems, and all the equipment needed to host small pets at a new site including purpose-built cages, outdoor runs and boarding equipment.
Ms Timms added: “The sale presents an exciting opportunity for someone who loves animals and is looking to run their own business.
“The business would suit anyone with a genuine love of animals, whether they’re looking for a career change, a family-run business or an opportunity to expand an existing pet-related enterprise.
“With pet ownership continuing to grow and more people travelling, demand for trusted boarding services remains strong.
READ MORE: Mum jailed after teen girl beat up man, 50, hours before his death
“I’d be delighted to see Oxford Small Pet Boarding continue under new ownership and provide the same high standard of care that customers and their pets have come to expect.”
She added that the business is not tied to any particular location, currently based in an Oxford suburb and operated from a nine-by-five metre indoor building with direct access to secure outdoor exercise runs.
The guide price for the business is £29,950 and interest can be registered through agent Goodwins Business Brokers.
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoHSBC UK & Visa test AI shopping with live payments
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoMouser warns against viral hacks to cool overheating phones
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoValarian lands USD $50 million backing for sovereign AI
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoDWP now checking bank accounts for Universal Credit and Pension Credit
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoHenley Festival 2026 highlights: Five nights of unforgettable performances and festival moments
-
Oxford united FC3 weeks agoOxford United three players who be kept after transfer ban
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoOde launches free AI voice service for poem recommendations
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoZYMIX uses Henley event to pitch social app to Gen Z