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Crypto ownership among Canadians has risen to 25%, up from 10% in the Ontario Securities Commission’s previous survey in 2023.
The regulator’s latest study surveyed 2,360 Canadians and found that awareness of crypto assets reached 59%. The ownership result reverses the decline reported in 2023, when the OSC found that participation had fallen from 13% in 2022 to 10%.
Ownership More Than Doubles From 10% in 2023
The OSC’s 2023 survey found that one in 10 Canadians owned crypto assets or crypto investment funds, down from 13% a year earlier. Interest had also weakened, with fewer respondents saying they planned to buy crypto during the following 12 months.
The latest survey puts ownership at 25%, more than double the level reported in 2023. The study also examines stablecoins and tokenized assets as the regulator updates its view of how Canadians are participating in digital asset markets.
The findings provide a new snapshot of crypto participation after the decline recorded in the OSC’s previous study.
Crypto Awareness Reaches 59% While Knowledge Remains Limited
Crypto awareness reached 59% among respondents, although the OSC found that Canadians’ working knowledge of digital assets remained limited.
Earlier OSC research found that crypto owners tended to be younger, male and more comfortable with investment risk. Knowledge of areas including regulation and security risks was less consistent across the wider population.
The latest results therefore show a gap between general awareness of crypto assets and respondents’ understanding of how the market works and the risks involved.
OSC Expands 2,360-Person Survey to Stablecoins and Tokenized Assets
The new study broadens the OSC’s research beyond conventional crypto ownership by examining emerging areas including stablecoins and tokenized assets. The commission oversees Ontario’s capital markets and registered crypto trading platforms, making investor participation and knowledge relevant to its oversight of the sector.
The latest survey leaves the OSC with a substantially different ownership picture from 2023: one-quarter of Canadians surveyed now report owning crypto assets, while overall awareness has climbed to 59%.
