A recent survey by Australian crypto broker Swyftx reveals that more than 40% of Gen Z and Millennials in Australia regret not investing in cryptocurrency over the past decade. The study, conducted by YouGov and released on Thursday, surveyed 3,009 Australians under 35, highlighting crypto as one of the biggest missed financial opportunities of the last ten years.
Other common regrets included not buying property and not investing in major tech stocks, such as Apple and Amazon.
Crypto Seen as Alternative to Property Market
Swyftx suggested that part of the generational FOMO (fear of missing out) stems from the structural buying of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) by corporations, sovereign funds, and U.S. pension plans.
In 2015, Bitcoin traded between $172 and $465, during the tail end of a bear market. It has since skyrocketed by over 23,000%, reaching $107,505 as of Thursday.
Many younger Australians reportedly view crypto as a way to circumvent the country’s housing affordability crisis. Australia ranks sixth globally for property prices, behind Switzerland, South Korea, Luxembourg, Austria, and Norway, according to Australian Property Investor Magazine.
“Housing unaffordability at this scale is a predicament other generations didn’t face, and crypto is seen as an opportunity to get ahead,” a Swyftx spokesperson said.
“A lot of younger investors want high beta assets in their portfolios, and the data indicates they generally understand the asset class well.”
Younger Investors Shifting Toward Crypto Over Stocks
The survey also noted a decline in preference for stocks relative to crypto among young Australians. Swyftx CEO Jason Titman said that within two years, younger retail investors may be equally likely to buy Bitcoin as standard shares, with adoption largely depending on investor protections and regulatory clarity.
“The data suggests that millions more investors will enter the market once it is regulated,” the spokesperson added, citing the U.S. as an example where regulatory certainty has encouraged major banks like Morgan Stanley to enter the crypto market.
Australia’s government, led by the center-left Labor Party, proposed a new crypto framework in March 2025, which aims to regulate exchanges under existing financial services laws.
Gen Z Using Crypto to Supplement Income
The survey highlighted that Gen Z (born 1996–2010) is actively using crypto to top up income, with the group reporting the highest average profits. Among investors who made a profit, the average was $9,958, and 82% of Gen Z participants reported gains.
Overall, 78% of Australian crypto users reported making a profit from trading over the past year.
“Our Gen Z clients have longer investment horizons and are not overly concerned about the annualized volatility of Bitcoin and other crypto assets,” the Swyftx spokesperson noted.
Conclusion
The survey underscores a growing generational shift toward cryptocurrency as both an investment vehicle and a practical solution for financial inclusion. With regulatory clarity on the horizon, analysts expect a significant surge in adoption among younger Australians, who see digital assets as a means to build wealth and mitigate barriers in traditional markets such as real estate.