Deepening inflation fears are pushing U.S. crypto traders into digital assets, as 90% worry the dollar will lose purchasing power. An OKX survey found 49% increased crypto holdings since January, reflecting intensifying pressure on portfolio strategies.
Key Takeaways:
- 90% of surveyed traders fear the dollar will lose purchasing power.
- 49% increased crypto holdings since January amid rising inflation concerns.
- 73% expect crypto to play a larger global financial role.
Inflation Concerns Drive Crypto Allocation Changes
Rising inflation concerns are driving a measurable shift in how U.S. crypto traders allocate capital, according to a survey released May 1, 2026, by OKX, a global cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 technology company. The survey found that 49% of respondents moved further into crypto since January, as concern about future dollar purchasing power becomes more widespread among active American crypto traders.
The survey of 1,000 Americans who trade cryptocurrency highlights the scale of that concern. OKX said:
“Ninety percent of respondents said they are concerned the US dollar will significantly lose purchasing power over the next five years. The sharper number: 45% chose ‘extremely concerned,’ making dollar anxiety the most common response in the survey.”
Millennials reported the highest level of extreme concern at 49%, compared with 44% of Gen Z, 39% of Gen X, and 32% of Boomers. The concern has translated into allocation changes. Nearly half of respondents said they increased crypto holdings in response to inflation concerns over the past six months. More than one-quarter said they did so within the last month. Forty percent said they moved more than 10% of their portfolio into crypto, while 15% said they moved more than 20%.
Bitcoin Gains Wealth-Preservation Support Among Traders
Bitcoin also stood out in the survey’s wealth-preservation findings. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they view bitcoin primarily as a store of value, while 16% said the opposite. Among those who see bitcoin that way, 33% said their conviction has strengthened since the start of 2026. Gold remained the most trusted wealth-preservation asset overall, cited by 32% of respondents. Bitcoin ranked second at 26%. Among Gen Z, however, bitcoin led gold by 28% to 21%. That result shows a different preference among younger crypto traders when comparing digital assets with traditional wealth-preservation assets.
Longer-term expectations point in the same direction. OKX said:
“On the longer-term outlook, 73% said they expect crypto to play a larger role in the global financial system a decade from now.”
Only 3% said they view crypto as a passing trend. The survey results are directional and reflect active crypto participants, not the broader U.S. adult population. Still, the findings show inflation concerns are influencing crypto allocations, bitcoin views, and wealth-preservation preferences among American crypto traders.
