Four in 10 young Australians say not buying Bitcoin a decade ago is their biggest financial regret, with many believing early crypto exposure could have helped them afford a home in one of the world’s most expensive property markets.Gen Z and Millennials Regret Missing the Crypto BoomAccording to a new YouGov survey commissioned by Australian crypto exchange Swyftx, 40% of Australians under 35 regret not investing in cryptocurrency ten years ago — ranking it among the top financial regrets of the past decade.The study, released Thursday, polled 3,009 participants across Australia and found that “missing the crypto boat” narrowly edged out regrets about not purchasing property or tech stocks like Apple and Amazon.Swyftx analysts said the sentiment likely stems from the structural adoption of Bitcoin and Ether by corporations, sovereign entities, and U.S. pension funds, reinforcing crypto’s status as an institutional asset class.In 2015, Bitcoin (BTC) traded between $172 and $465 during the tail end of a bear market. As of Thursday, BTC was hovering around $107,505, representing a 23,000% increase over the past decade.Crypto Seen as the ‘Missed Ticket’ to HomeownershipA Swyftx spokesperson told Cointelegraph that many younger Australians feel locked out of the property market and view crypto as a lost opportunity to build wealth.“Housing unaffordability at this scale is a predicament other generations didn’t face, and crypto is seen as a way to get ahead,” the spokesperson said.“A lot of younger investors want high-beta assets in their portfolios, and the data we have indicates they generally understand the asset class pretty well.”Australia is currently ranked the sixth most expensive housing market in the world, behind Switzerland, South Korea, Luxembourg, Austria, and Norway, according to Australian Property Investor Magazine.Overall, 80% of Australians under 50 said they regretted at least one investment decision over the past decade — with crypto topping the list for those under 35.Younger Investors Shifting Toward CryptoThe survey also showed a narrowing gap between Australians planning to invest in traditional stocks and those intending to buy crypto.Swyftx CEO Jason Titman said the data suggests younger retail investors could be just as likely to buy Bitcoin as standard shares within two years, assuming regulatory clarity improves.“Regulation in Australia and other major markets will likely be key to unleashing a big bang of investment,” a Swyftx spokesperson added.They noted that investor participation tends to accelerate in regulated environments, citing the U.S. crypto ETF approvals and participation from major banks like Morgan Stanley as evidence of a “halo effect” from regulatory certainty.Australia’s Labor government proposed a crypto exchange licensing framework in March 2025, which would bring platforms under existing financial services laws for the first time.Gen Z Using Crypto to Supplement IncomeGen Z — Australians born between 1996 and 2010 — are increasingly using crypto as a secondary income source, with 82% of those who invested reporting profits in the last 12 months.The average profit for Gen Z investors was $9,958, making them the most successful demographic in the survey.Overall, 78% of Australian crypto traders reported gains over the past year, driven by record highs across major digital assets.“Our Gen Z clients have longer investment horizons and aren’t overly concerned about Bitcoin’s short-term volatility,” Swyftx’s spokesperson said. “They’re focused on the long game — not the day-to-day swings.”
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