Despite price volatility throughout 2025, crypto ownership continues to grow steadily across almost all European countries. According to a survey conducted by the European Central Bank, around 9% of adults in the eurozone owned crypto assets in 2024.
Among the 20 eurozone countries, crypto ownership ranges from 6% in the Netherlands and Germany to as much as 15% in Slovenia. While the overall differences are relatively modest, Slovenia clearly stands out as Europe’s most crypto-savvy — or “nerdest” — nation.
However, the fastest growth has been recorded elsewhere. Greece and Lithuania can be considered Europe’s crypto rockets. In both countries, ownership increased by ten percentage points between 2022 and 2025. In Greece, ownership rose from 4% to 14%, while Lithuania jumped from 3% to 13% over the same period.
By contrast, crypto ownership in the Netherlands has remained unchanged since 2022, holding steady at 6%. Germany, meanwhile, saw a moderate increase from 4% to 6%, reaching the same level as the Dutch market.
“Country differences in ownership shares are typically driven by a combination of digital adoption, risk appetite, and local market structure,” said James Sullivan, chief risk and compliance officer at the BCB Group, speaking to Euronews Business.
According to Sullivan, local regulatory and economic conditions play a decisive role in shaping attitudes toward cryptoand digital assets. In markets with limited traditional investment opportunities, crypto is often used more speculatively, while strong awareness campaigns can further accelerate adoption.
The ECB survey also sheds light on how Europeans use crypto. Investment is by far the dominant motivation, accounting for an average of 64% across the euro area. The highest investment-driven ownership was recorded in the Netherlands (90%) and Germany (82%). At the other end of the spectrum, Lithuania (51%) and Belgium (54%) showed the lowest shares of investment-focused ownership.
France stands out for its comparatively high use of crypto for payments, with 25% of owners citing this reason. In contrast, only 2% of Dutch crypto holders use it primarily for payments. Lithuania shows a more balanced picture, with investment and payments together accounting for 30% of ownership motivations.
These differences reflect how Europeans continue to perceive crypto — predominantly as a speculative investment rather than a practical payment tool.
“The long-term shift toward utility will rely heavily on the success of MiCA in regulating euro-denominated stablecoins and integrating them seamlessly into existing payment infrastructures,” Sullivan concluded, adding that this remains a core focus of the ECB.
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