The Next Boom: How Gen Z and Gen Alpha Are Shaping the Future of Cryptocurrency

As younger generations enter the market, we are likely to witness a significant shift in the values and adoption of cryptocurrencies. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, are more inclined to support and engage with crypto than older generations. Part of this stems from the timing of Bitcoin’s emergence—it was created while many of us were still in school, during our formative tech-savvy years. This early exposure, even if indirect, laid a foundation of familiarity with the concept of decentralized digital money.

Members of the younger Gen Z cohort and Generation Alpha are in a particularly interesting position. They’ve grown up in an era where Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have gone from obscure assets to global phenomena. This means that many of them, especially those with tech-forward family environments, are already somewhat familiar with crypto—if not directly involved in it.

For instance, if a child’s parents or older relatives already own cryptocurrency, there’s a good chance that child has at least heard of it, or even owns some themselves. I recall telling my 14-year-old cousin about Bitcoin, and she immediately called it “hacker money.” At first, I thought she misunderstood, but then I realized this was her way—shaped by Gen Alpha’s fast-paced, meme-heavy online culture—of expressing that crypto is money that exists outside the traditional financial system. It wasn’t a criticism; it was a reflection of how digital natives perceive these new financial tools.

Despite her young age, my cousin knows about Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Litecoin. She may not grasp blockchain’s technical depth, but she’s aware of the key players and concepts. When I explained that she could earn cryptocurrency by posting content online, she was immediately interested. Today, she even holds a small amount of crypto (specifically Blurt and Hive), making her a small but telling example of what’s to come.

Even in households where crypto isn't directly discussed, Generation Alpha is absorbing information through the broader digital environment—especially through content creators in the gaming and streaming communities. Many popular figures in these spaces either use, reference, or promote cryptocurrency in some form, subtly normalizing its presence among young audiences.

In my view, once these digitally fluent individuals begin earning their own income, they’ll be far more likely to invest in cryptocurrencies. Their familiarity, cultural acceptance, and the influence of online communities make it almost inevitable that they will play a major role in shaping the future of digital finance.