Are you looking for the perfect gift for the Gen Z loved ones in your life this holiday season? Well, you might not have to waste time on TikTok shop – a new survey indicates that 45% of Gen Z wants cryptocurrency as a gift.
That 2025 Holiday Shopping Survey Visa commissioned by Morning Consult included a sample of 1,000 adults polled this October. It found that 44% of Gen Z – a cohort born from roughly 1997 to 2012 – makes purchases via cryptocurrency, more than other age groups.
Crypto is a form of digital currency that is “mined” digitally and held in digital wallets. Since the release of the Bitcoin whitepaper in 2008, it has been steadily gaining popularity and President Donald Trump even announced plans for a “Crypto Strategic Reserve” this year. Bitcoin itself was worth around $88,000 per coin as of this Tuesday, per CNBC, but there are a multitude of different cryptocurrencies available, including stablecoins that are designed to maintain a stable value.
According to the results of the Visa survey, Gen Z is more likely to prefer shopping with a digital wallet over physical cards. They are also more likely than other age groups to use biometric authentication (for example, using a fingerprint or face scan to unlock their phone or accounts) at 71%, and to purchase gifts from social platforms at 55%.
“The data tells a fascinating story about the spending shift we're witnessing: shoppers are embracing AI and digital tools at remarkable speed, with nearly half of Americans now using AI to enhance their shopping experience,” said Bruce Cundiff, vice president, Consumer Insights at Visa. “From AI-powered gift discovery to cryptocurrency as a legitimate gift option, we’re seeing Gen Z and younger millennials lead a fundamental reimagining of commerce.”
Earlier this year, Audacy reported that Gen Z and millennial generations were struggling to save money amid economic pressure. The “Retirement Survey & Insights Report 2025” from Goldman Sachs found that 42% were living paycheck to paycheck.
“The cost of basic needs has increased dramatically since 2000, outpacing by far the median wage growth,” Goldman Sachs explained. “As the cost of expenses such as housing, childcare, education and healthcare has grown, it has narrowed the gap between income and expenses, leaving little to save for retirement.”
More recent polls have found that American adults of all ages have a negative view of the economy. Audacy has reported on the rise of “Thriftmas” or thrifting for holiday gifts and other items this year, a trend that Gen Z is particularly interested in.
Overall, nearly half (47%) of the U.S. shoppers polled for the Visa survey said they had used an artificial intelligence tool for at least one shopping task, often to find gift ideas. While Gen Z was the group most likely to want cryptocurrency as a gift, 28% of respondents overall said they would be excited to receive cryptocurrency this holiday season.
“Approximately one in 10 shoppers believe stablecoins will take over by 2030, while 28% expect an increase in usage of stablecoins by 2035,” added Visa.
Though more shoppers are embracing tech like AI and cryptocurrency, there are also concerns about it. Visa’s survey found that 61% of respondents preferred human interaction over AI for customer service, and 66% were worried that their friends or family could fall victim to an online scam. Nearly 40% said they have already encountered a scam this year.