The second annual Global Survey on Crypto and Web3 by Consensys and YouGov provides new insights from 2024 into public perception, understanding, and engagement with blockchain, crypto, and web3 around the world.
- Survey results show the vast majority – approximately 93 percent – of people surveyed are aware of cryptocurrencies, up from 92% in 2023. Beyond awareness, participation in 10 out of 11 web3 activities surveyed are up over the past year, from collecting non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, (up 3 percentage points), to using decentralized finance (+4), blockchain-based games (+3), web3 wallets (+ 6), and staking services (+3).
- Over half the population in Nigeria (84%), South Africa (66%), Vietnam (60%), the Philippines (54%) and India (50%) report owning a crypto wallet in 2024. Wallet ownership in the Americas is highest in the US at 43% while Turkey leads European countries surveyed at 44%. Emerging markets lead the way in blockchain adoption, while many nations in Europe, east Asia and the Americas are more skeptical by comparison yet still view blockchain technology as the “future of digital ownership” or “the future of money.” In fact, future of money remains the concept most frequently associated with crypto for the second year in a row. At the same time, many respondents think the current financial system could be improved (47%), and 18% (+2) think the financial system needs to be completely rebuilt.
- Crypto is also part of the near future in 14 out of the 18 countries surveyed, where majorities of those who said they are aware of NFTs plan to invest in or collect them over the next 12 months.
- Similar to 2023, 2024 data and analysis clearly show people want more control and ownership over their privacy, data, and identity online. People also worry that big tech companies like Meta (sometimes referred to as “web2”) have too much power and do not adequately compensate them for the value they generate when using the internet.
- New from this year is the widespread concern about fake content created by artificial intelligence. Over one in three people worldwide think that decentralization, a key feature of blockchain, crypto, and web3, could improve online social network and content platforms and 54% believe blockchain can help reduce the risks of AI-generated content.