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.