2020 was a 12 months of great progress within the cryptocurrency business. We noticed Bitcoin attain new highs, as famend monetary establishments invested on this revolutionary asset class and enthusiasm throughout the market bounced again.
Final 12 months, bitFlyer Europe performed the survey in European nations measuring the consciousness and religion within the way forward for crypto. Again then two thirds of Europeans admitted to having religion that cryptocurrencies will nonetheless exist in 10 years’ time, nonetheless the bulk are nonetheless unsure how they are going to be used.
In September 2020, when evaluating our information from 2020 to 2018, we’ve got seen a rise in accounts opened by customers of their 20s within the first half of 2020 at group stage.
As a international cryptocurrency change that has places of work, amongst others, in San Francisco, CA, and Tokyo, Japan, this time we determined to dive deep into the present state of investing and cryptocurrencies within the US and Japan, and discover the variations between these two large and fascinating markets. Our survey focused 3000 individuals aged 20-59 throughout Japan and the US.
Key findings from our analysis:
- Two-thirds of individuals within the US stated they’re interested by investing extra in monetary property in 2021.
- 30% of Individuals assume Bitcoin/Cryptocurrencies might be a gorgeous funding this 12 months, making it two instances extra widespread than Gold and the 4th most chosen asset. The most well-liked asset was shares at 54%.
- 82% of the US inhabitants has heard about cryptocurrencies.
- Roughly 20% of respondents within the US are presently utilizing or have used cryptocurrencies previously.
- 76% of individuals within the US which have heard about crypto have a constructive notion about cryptocurrencies as an funding. In Japan, 78% of the respondents have a unfavourable notion, displaying a fairly sturdy distinction between the 2 areas.
- Our analysis exhibits that the present market sentiment amongst American buyers is very bullish in comparison with the Japanese, reinforcing the argument that the final run-up in value was primarily pushed by US buyers.
The State of Investing
Our analysis exhibits that 82% of individuals within the US put money into monetary property, with virtually a 3rd of the inhabitants allocating over 1 / 4 of their internet price into investments. However, in Japan, 69% of individuals don’t put money into monetary property, displaying a big distinction throughout the 2 areas.
In each the US and Japan, males have a tendency to speculate greater than girls, whereas additionally allocating the next share of their internet price into their investments.
There may be additionally a big distinction within the outlook for investing this 12 months. 68% of respondents within the US are planning to speculate or proceed investing, whereas that determine is solely 18% in Japan.
Why are folks investing in 2021?
Throughout the globe, one of the crucial widespread causes folks need to make investments this 12 months is to put together for the longer term and enhance their long-term internet price. A big share of respondents need to diversify their revenue by investments and consider that investing is the strongest and quickest method to develop their capital.
“To be able to construct your wealth, it would be best to make investments your cash. Investing means that you can put your cash in automobiles which have the potential to earn sturdy charges of return. For those who do not make investments, you’re lacking out on alternatives to extend your monetary price.” — (male in his 30s, US)
After final 12 months’s occasions, extra persons are taking note of the market in hopes of capitalizing on a potential financial rebound this 12 months.
“It is a nice time to speculate, hopefully issues can solely get higher and go up.” — (feminine in her 30s, US)
Low rates of interest are additionally fueling folks’s motivation to allocate their wealth into funding property. We will see an identical pattern in Japan.
“Curiosity is just too low for deposits and financial savings. I believe it’s higher to handle your capital with some danger” — (male in his 40s, Japan).
Why are folks not seeking to put money into monetary property?
There’s an fascinating distinction in why persons are not seeking to make investments throughout the 2 areas. One of the widespread the explanation why folks within the US should not planning to speculate this 12 months is due to monetary challenges created by the COVID-19 disaster.
“I’ve no job presently, so no revenue. Cannot make investments what you do not have” — (male in his 30s, US)
“Cash may be very tight as a result of pandemic” — (feminine in her 30s, US)
Our information exhibits that, logically, folks with decrease incomes are 40% much less prone to make investments. This, amidst the latest surge in COVID-19 circumstances and adjustments in energy within the US, has elevated folks’s uncertainty and concern of what’s going to occur subsequent on the macroeconomic stage.
What’s most fascinating, nonetheless, is that the primary cause why Individuals don’t make investments isn’t due to the dangers of shedding cash. They primarily don’t do it as a result of they don’t have the mandatory assets. In Japan, it’s a distinct story.
Whereas the financial affect from the COVID-19 disaster additionally impacted many individuals’s skill to put money into Japan, nearly all of those that stated that they aren’t seeking to make investments highlighted the potential dangers related to investing, fairly than an absence of assets to take action.
“I do not wish to lose even 0.0001% of my cash. I do not wish to put money into something that has the danger of shedding even a small sum of money. Nevertheless, if there’s a no-risk, high-return funding, I’ll undoubtedly do it” — (male in his 40s in Japan)
“I believe funding is identical as playing. I do not wish to do harmful issues like shedding cash.” — (Male in his 30s in Japan)
“I do not know the right way to do it, and it appears that there’s a excessive danger of loss.” — (feminine in her 30s in Japan)
There’s a transparent distinction within the sentiment in the direction of investing between the 2 areas. We see folks within the US being much more open to investing and having a much bigger want to diversify their revenue by investing. In Japan folks are inclined to have a way more cautious stance.
The State of Crypto
Cryptocurrency adoption is increased within the US than it’s in Japan. Within the US, 22% of respondents have invested in crypto in some unspecified time in the future – over 4 instances increased than Japan.
Equally with investing, the sentiment in the direction of cryptocurrencies is rather a lot stronger within the US than it’s in Japan. 76% of the respondents within the US who’ve heard about cryptocurrencies have a constructive notion about cryptocurrencies as an funding, whereas in Japan it was the exact opposite.
What’s driving folks’s constructive notion about cryptocurrencies?
Individuals like cryptocurrencies within the US and Japan for very comparable causes. One of the widespread ones is the growing reputation of cryptocurrencies and its exceptional rise in value, which makes it a really enticing funding.
“Cryptos are rising at a quick charge and I really feel they’ll continue to grow and be very worthwhile” — (male in his 20s, US)
“I noticed within the information that the worth has elevated not too long ago” — (male in his 20s in Japan)
But it surely’s not solely its run-up in value that’s getting folks’s consideration. Many respondents highlighted crypto’s worth propositions and consider in its long-term worth.
“I really feel [cryptocurrencies] put you in management versus large Wall avenue companies. You should purchase/promote 24/7. Some have mounted amount versus shares that may at all times difficulty new shares and so on” — (male in his 50s, US)
“Cryptocurrency appears to be gaining momentum with the fallout of world and nationwide foreign money techniques.” — (feminine in her 20s, US)
Furthermore, in 2020 we noticed a wave of establishments coming into the cryptocurrency house, and folks within the US observed. Institutional participation solidified folks’s long-term outlook for crypto, and even their notion of it.
“Massive establishments have been beginning to purchase crypto, which might drive up shortage and subsequently the worth. That, and after a decade it doesn’t seem to be it’s going wherever anytime quickly.” — (male in his 20s, US)
“I selected constructive as a result of I undoubtedly assume it has leveled out now. At first it was undoubtedly unfavourable (from what I heard). I believe it’s a brand new method of investing.” — (Feminine in her 20s, US)
Why do folks have unfavourable perceptions about cryptocurrencies?
Whereas the value of Bitcoin has elevated over 250% within the final 12 months, many individuals are nonetheless afraid of its excessive value volatility.
Moreover, after seeing many incidents equivalent to hacks and reviews from mass media, many are involved concerning the crypto’s safety dangers and utilization at present. In Japan, the place the overwhelming majority of individuals have unfavourable perceptions about crypto, these safety issues had been paramount and deep-rooted into folks’s perceptions.
“There was a digital foreign money incident within the information some time in the past.” — (male in his 40s, Japan)
“There’s a risk of somebody stealing it” — (male in his 30s, Japan)
Lastly, as with every new know-how, there’s a large studying curve.
“I don’t know sufficient about it to have a constructive opinion” — (feminine in her 30s, US)
Many individuals don’t perceive cryptocurrencies properly sufficient with a view to make a correct judgment about them, which in the end impacts their notion. As folks be taught extra about cryptocurrencies, we are able to count on this to vary sooner or later.
Which funding property do folks assume might be most engaging in 2021?
54% of respondents assume shares might be a gorgeous funding in 2021, making it the hottest asset within the US.
Crypto was two instances extra widespread than Gold and likewise the 4th hottest asset, as 30% of Individuals consider it is going to be an enticing funding alternative. In Japan, crypto was the fifth hottest asset, as folks favored different funding automobiles equivalent to Mutual Funds and FX.
Diving deeper into the totally different segments, we noticed that for buyers within the US with the highest stage of expertise crypto was the third hottest asset. This group highlighted the excessive progress that cryptocurrencies have skilled currently and consider it is going to be one of the crucial worthwhile investments.
“ETFs are straightforward and low price foundation, actual property will at all times produce earnings and bitcoin is gaining steam and can proceed to in 2021” — (male in his 40s with greater than 10 years of funding expertise, US)
However, crypto was the second hottest asset amongst the least skilled buyers. Crypto’s run-up in value and growing adoption spiked the curiosity of this group, which need to capitalize on the most recent traits out there.
Wrapping up
A major share of Individuals need to make investments this 12 months, as they view it as one of many simplest methods to extend their wealth. The other was true in Japan, the place buyers have a extra conservative stance.
Furthermore, the adoption of cryptocurrencies within the US has grown considerably over the past 12 months, as we’ve seen an growing variety of American firms allocating capital into this new asset class and increasing their providers to cowl this revolutionary know-how. The market sentiment is presently very constructive, particularly when in comparison with the Japanese market.
The outlook for cryptocurrencies this 12 months seems very promising within the US because it continues rising in reputation, particularly with the brand new technology of buyers which favored the asset greater than anybody else. This may be a great signal for Europe as training about cryptocurrency and the desire to diversify funding portfolios is at all times growing.
Regardless of the bearish sentiment in Japan, it stays as one of the crucial necessary markets on the planet and with one of the crucial structured regulatory frameworks globally.
Since 2014, our mission as a world firm has been to supply the only and most safe technique to entry cryptocurrencies around the globe. We plan to proceed specializing in providing the very best stage of safety to our prospects and new merchandise to offer extra worth.
Survey methodology
- Survey interval: January 5, 2021-January 11, 2021
- Goal group: A complete of three,000 customers (20-59 years previous) dwelling within the US and Japanese markets. Japan n = 2,000, USA n = 1,000
- The info of every market adjusts the composition of gender and age based mostly on the census outcomes in order that the traits of customers within the surveyed nations are accurately mirrored.
- Survey technique: WEB questionnaire survey
* When utilizing the survey outcomes of this launch, please specify [Survey by bitFlyer USA.].
