US Crypto Adoption Sees a Revival, With Bitcoin Maintaining Its Dominance

According to a recent retail survey conducted by Deutsche Bank, which spanned 3,400 consumers across the US, UK, and EU, the US has seen a significant rebound in crypto adoption. The survey found that participation rates in the US increased to 12% in March, up from a low of 7% in February, thereby returning to levels last seen in July 2025. This resurgence in adoption has been accompanied by a notable increase in net inflows into bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), totaling approximately $1.3 billion in March, which signals a renewed interest from institutional investors. Analysts Marion Laboure and Camilla Siazon noted in their report that 'US crypto adoption rates recovered in March, after steadily declining since July 2025.' The stabilization of crypto prices, following a volatile start to 2026, has been driven by renewed institutional demand and geopolitical factors. Bitcoin, in particular, experienced a 9% increase in March, recovering towards the $70,000 mark after earlier declines, although it remains down over 20% year-to-date and well below its peak of over $120,000 in late 2025. More recently, prices have pushed higher, briefly exceeding $77,000, amid easing geopolitical tensions and improving risk sentiment. However, the recovery has been uneven, with prices repeatedly testing resistance around the mid-$70,000 range, a level that analysts consider a key threshold for further upside. Despite the rebound in participation, consumer sentiment on bitcoin's price outlook remains subdued, with a majority of respondents expecting bitcoin to trade lower than current levels by the end of 2026. In the US, 19% of respondents expect prices to fall between $20,000 and $60,000, while 13% anticipate a drop below $20,000. Only a small minority, around 3% in the US, expect a return to record highs near $120,000. Bitcoin remains the central player in the crypto market, with roughly 70% of crypto investors across regions holding bitcoin, far exceeding ownership of stablecoins such as USDT or USDC. It is also the top choice for future investment, cited by 69% of US respondents. Traditional assets, such as gold and the S&P 500, continue to compete for investor attention, although the gap has narrowed in the US, where preferences are more evenly split across the three. Demographically, crypto adoption remains skewed towards men and higher-income households, although there have been gradual gains among women and lower-income investors, with younger consumers, particularly in the UK, showing the fastest growth in participation.