Key Themes in Financial Capability:Young People and Cryptocurrency
This research project explores young people’s engagement with, and understanding of, cryptocurrency within the wider context of financial capability across the UK, as well as how young people might be better supported in navigating this landscape.
The report draws on:
- a thematic review of UK and international literature;
- quantitative survey data from 2,000 respondents aged 15-18 from LFBF’s Young Person’s Money Index
2025/26, collected by the independent research agency Savanta and including representative samples of
young people from across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as by ethnic group; and - qualitative focus groups conducted in partnership with London Youth, a charity focused on championing
and strengthening London’s youth organisations
Key findings
- Engagement with cryptocurrency: a significant minority are already involved
- Knowledge and confidence: high awareness, low understanding
- Motivations and perceptions: caution more than naivety
- Trust and disillusionment beyond cryptocurrency
- What young people want: education that empowers
Executive summary recommendations
The report then goes on to make three recommendations as indicative priorities, rather than prescriptive actions. They are to:
1. Modernise financial education curricula
2. Explore learning methods suited to cryptocurrency and digital finance
3. Reconnect young people with the financial services industry
GSR and LFBF: working together
This research was conceived, commissioned and supported by the GSR Foundation, an independent charitable grant-maker established in 2022 by GSR, crypto’s capital markets partner. The study was designed to gather insights to help shape the Foundation’s education grant-making, and we are pleased to share it publicly in the hope that it contributes to wider learning across the sector. The Foundation funds charities and other purpose-driven organisations across three core verticals: Blockchain for Good initiatives, Internet Connectivity, and Education and Infrastructure. Further information can be found at gsrfoundation.io.
Download report
To download the full report, please complete the form below: