Key stats
- 33% of Australians invested in or held crypto
- 71% of crypto investors hold Bitcoin
- 62% of crypto investors would have increased confidence in exchanges if they were licensed
- 32% of crypto investors put $500 or more per month into crypto
- 57% of Australian crypto investors report making a profit
- 13% of Australians wanted to invest in crypto, but weren’t able to due to the economy
- 41% of Australians believe crypto will be widely accepted by people and businesses
- 73% of Australians consider Bitcoin to be money, a store of value or an investment asset
About the IRCI
Now in its seventh year, the Independent Reserve Cryptocurrency Index (IRCI) 2026 is an annual cross-sectional survey of over 2,000 Australians. The research captures the perspectives of everyday Australians and is balanced across gender, age and geographic distribution. The index is rated out of 100 and designed to reflect four key aspects of Australian attitudes towards cryptocurrency: awareness, adoption, trust and confidence.
The IRCI survey was conducted between 12 and 20 January 2026. The index moved from 54 in 2025 to 53 in 2026, reflecting a year of market volatility and shifting sentiment, even as institutional participation increased and regulatory oversight continued to evolve.
Download the IRCI 2026 report
View all the key insights in this year’s 40-page report.
Exploring trends in 2026
Beyond tracking awareness, adoption, trust and confidence, the 2026 IRCI explores:
- Regulation moves from discussion to implementation (pages 10-11)
- Bridging the gap between banks and crypto (pages 12-13)
- Digital assets enter the retirement conversation (pages 28–29)
Expert contributions
The 2026 IRCI features insights from three Australian industry leaders who reflect on how digital assets are evolving within a changing economic landscape.
- Australia’s cautious and deliberate path to financial resilience by Amy-Rose Goodey, CEO of DECA (page 14)
- From holding to utility: The rise of crypto-backed lending by James Coombes, Director & Chief Commercial Officer, Block Earner (page 17)
- A new generation of SMSF trustees embraces digital assets Olivia Long, Founder & CEO, SMSFai (page 30)
IRCI 2026 infographics
All-time high crypto adoption: 33%
Australian crypto adoption by age-groups (2019-2026)
The average investment per month into crypto
Top held cryptocurrencies by Australian investors
Digital assets as a percentage of savings and investments
Profits and losses in crypto since 2019
Time in the market vs profits
Crypto-related bank transaction delays by age group
Factors contributing to why Australians invest in crypto
What would make Australians more likely to invest in cryptocurrency?
Goods and services paid for with crypto
Why Australians don’t use their crypto to pay for goods and services
How many Australians believe that crypto will be widely accepted in the future (2019-2026)
Bitcoin price predictions: 2020-2026
