Crypto investors remain overwhelmingly bullish about the prospects for digital assets, despite significant concerns about volatility, scams and regulation, according to new research from Good Money Guide.
A survey of those who voted in the 2026 Good Money Guide Crypto Awards found that 82.6% plan to buy cryptocurrency during the next 12 months, compared with just 5.4% who said they do not. A further 12.1% remain undecided.
The results suggest that enthusiasm for crypto remains strong among people engaging with the sector, even as investors acknowledge some of the substantial risks involved.
More Than Half Expect Crypto to Beat the S&P 500
Crypto investors are also optimistic about the longer-term performance of cryptocurrencies.
When asked whether major cryptocurrencies will outperform the S&P 500 over the next five years, 54.4% said yes.
Only 9.4% believed they would not, although a sizeable 36.2% said they did not know.
The results highlight the considerable expectations still attached to crypto as an asset class. However, comparing cryptocurrencies with the S&P 500 also underlines the very different risk profiles involved. Crypto prices can experience substantially greater volatility, while the S&P 500 provides diversified exposure to hundreds of established US companies.
Only Four in Ten Would Recommend Crypto Investing
Despite the risks, 60.4% of respondents said they would recommend crypto investing to friends or family.
Around 26.2% were unsure, while 13.4% said they would not recommend it.
This suggests crypto has moved considerably closer to mainstream investing for those already interested in the market, although the fact that almost four in ten would not confidently recommend it demonstrates that reservations remain. OR an underlying concern that the crypto markets could crash unexpectedly.
Volatility Is Crypto Investors’ Biggest Concern
When respondents were asked to identify their biggest concern about investing in cryptocurrency, volatility came out on top, cited by 32.9%.
Scams were the second-biggest concern at 24.8%, followed by regulation at 14.1%. Tax and hacking were each selected by 13.4% of respondents.
The findings are particularly interesting because they suggest that investors are more concerned about the fundamental price swings associated with crypto than they are about regulatory uncertainty or even the possibility of their assets being hacked.
More Than Half Have Seen Crypto Scam Ads on Social Media
The most concerning finding from the survey relates to crypto scams.
53.7% of respondents said they had seen a scam advert for cryptocurrency on social media.
A further 23.5% said they did not know whether they had encountered one, while only 22.8% said they had not.
That means more than three-quarters of respondents had either seen a crypto scam advert or could not be certain whether an advert they encountered was genuine.
The results show there is still a huge amount of enthusiasm for cryptocurrency. More than eight in ten respondents intend to buy crypto over the next year and more than half think major cryptocurrencies can outperform the S&P 500 over the next five years.
But what really stands out is the prevalence of scams. More than half of respondents say they have already seen a crypto scam advert on social media. Investors are clearly aware of the risks, but that doesn’t appear to be dampening their appetite for crypto.
Anyone investing in cryptocurrency needs to be particularly careful about where they get their information and which platforms they use. If an investment opportunity appears through a social media advert and promises unusually high or guaranteed returns, that should immediately be treated with caution.”
Key Findings:
Overall, the results paint a picture of investors who remain highly optimistic about crypto’s potential while being increasingly conscious of its risks.
- 82.6% plan to buy crypto in the next 12 months
- 60.4% would recommend crypto investing to friends or family
- 54.4% think major cryptocurrencies will outperform the S&P 500 over the next five years
- 32.9% say volatility is their biggest concern about crypto investing
- 24.8% say scams are their biggest concern
- 53.7% have seen a crypto scam advert on social media
For the crypto industry, that presents both an opportunity and a challenge: investor demand remains strong, but improving trust, tackling scams and helping consumers understand the risks will be crucial if cryptocurrency is to continue moving into the financial mainstream.
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
