Investment choices are evolving in Europe, where digital assets are gaining ground in long-term wealth creation strategies. A survey published by OKX reveals that more European investors are favoring crypto over traditional retirement savings plans. This trend contrasts with the preferences observed in the United States, where retirement accounts retain an important place. However, real estate remains the first choice for building lasting wealth, while gaps between generations persist.
In brief
- 19% of European investors favor cryptocurrencies to build lasting wealth, compared to 8% for retirement savings.
- Real estate remains at the top of wealth investments, with 34% of respondents.
- 47% of European investors plan to increase their cryptocurrency holdings.
- In the United States, 77% of respondents consider integrating cryptocurrencies into retirement plans risky.
European Investors Put Crypto Ahead of Retirement Savings
According to a survey published Thursday by OKX, 19% of European investors surveyed consider crypto as a tool for sustainable wealth creation. Conversely, only 8% favor traditional retirement savings plans. These results illustrate a gap between the two financial approaches among European participants. They also demonstrate the growing interest in digital assets in long-term wealth strategies.
L’study is based on responses from 1,932 adults aged 18 to 88 who have already invested in cryptocurrencies. Pollfish conducted this survey between October 14 and 18 in the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. The results therefore concern people who are already familiar with investments in digital assets. They do not necessarily represent the preferences of the entire population of these countries.
Despite this progression, real estate maintains a clear lead among the different options studied. In total, 34% of respondents consider it to be the asset most associated with building sustainable wealth. This preference exceeds that given to digital investments and retirement accounts. The results thus highlight the diversity of strategies used to prepare for the financial future.
Pension concerns boost interest in crypto
Concerns about future income shed additional light on the choices of young Europeans. In May 2026, a investigation conducted by Debating Europe among 2,000 Europeans aged 18 to 35 revealed their concerns about pensions. According to this study, 43% of participants fear that their retirement income will be insufficient. These concerns may help explain the interest in other investment solutions.
For Erald Ghoo, CEO of OKX Europe, the interest of those under 45 in digital assets reflects a change in financial habits.
When investors under the age of 45, on both sides of the Atlantic, consider cryptocurrencies as part of their long-term wealth, it shows that cryptocurrencies have become an integral part of their view of finances.
Erald Ghoo, CEO of OKX Europe. Source: Cointelegraph.
He estimated that their place in wealth management could become more important as these investors age. The gradual accumulation of wealth could also strengthen their role in long-term financial decisions. This development will, however, depend on individual choices and the way in which each person distributes their investments.
Investment intentions confirm this interest among European participants. Around 47% of them plan to increase their cryptocurrency holdings, with 13% planning a significant increase. Across all ages, 51% of respondents plan to increase their allocation to digital assets. These figures describe stated intentions and do not guarantee that investors will actually realize these increases.
Americans remain divided on digital investments
In the United States, the results reveal different preferences when it comes to wealth creation. Among respondents, 21% favor retirement savings accounts, compared to 12% for cryptocurrencies. This difference distinguishes American investors from their European counterparts. It shows that traditional investments retain an advantage in financial preparation for retirement.
However, investment intentions remain favorable to digital assets among a portion of American participants. According to the OKX survey, 55% plan to increase their allocation over the next five years. Among them, 22% envisage a significant increase. These figures indicate that interest in cryptos can grow without immediately replacing traditional solutions.
Gaps between generations also remain marked on both sides of the Atlantic. In Europe, 55% of baby boomers surveyed believe that digital assets do not play an important role in the transmission of wealth between generations. In the United States, this proportion reaches 65%. These results contrast with the investment intentions of other age groups and show that perceptions vary between generations.
The United States opens retirement plans to alternative assets
Despite the reservations expressed by American investors, the federal authorities have taken several steps to expand the options available in retirement plans. In August, a investigation of the National Institute on Retirement Security found that 77% of Americans view cryptocurrency investments in company retirement plans as risky. Among them, 46% consider them very risky. These figures reflect concerns surrounding the integration of digital assets into retirement savings.
In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor withdrew recommendations specific to cryptocurrencies that called on 401(k) plan managers to exercise extreme caution. This decision reestablished a neutral approach, neither encouraging nor discouraging these investments. Then, in August 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to expand access to alternative assets in 401(k) plans. This orientation notably provided for certain forms of exposure to digital assets.
In March 2026, the Department of Labor then presented a project aimed at expanding investment opportunities from 401(k) plans to cryptos and other alternative assets. However, this approach aroused political opposition. In June 2026, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Bobby Scott called on the department to withdraw its proposal, citing risks related to the volatility of digital assets.
The evolution of these rules could therefore influence the place of crypto in American retirement savings. The authorities still have to deal with divergent positions on investment opportunities and the protection of savers. In Europe, the intentions declared by investors demonstrate an interest in digital assets, without erasing the preference for real estate. As regulatory debates advance, investor choices and conditions of access to alternative investments will determine their future role in building sustainable wealth.
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