UK Consumers Show Curiosity but Low Understanding of Digital Currency Payments, With Gen Z Driving Future Momentum

WHY THIS MATTERS: The new data from FIS exposes a significant chasm between awareness and viable digital currency adoption in the UK, directly challenging the assumption that simply having the technology is enough for mainstream use. The key takeaway is that the market is stuck in a ‘curiosity gap’: 87% of consumers know what cryptocurrencies and stablecoins are, yet two-thirds (66%) do not understand how they would improve their financial lives. This knowledge deficit, coupled with deep-seated concerns over transparency (37%) and personal financial risk (34%), indicates that the current push for digital assets is fundamentally a crisis of consumer trust. While Gen Z shows promising early intent to increase usage, providing a critical lead indicator for the future, mass market inertia will persist until regulatory bodies, like the FCA with its 2026 stablecoin priority, establish clear safeguards.

New research from FIS suggests that digital currencies, such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, are firmly on the radar of younger consumers, but limited understanding and concerns around transparency continue to hold back wider adoption across the UK.

While the FCA recently confirmed that stablecoin payments are a 2026 priority, the data shows a clear knowledge gap among UK consumers, alongside uncertainty about how the technology works in practice and how it is regulated.

Key findings from the research include:

• While 87% of UK consumers are aware of cryptocurrency or stablecoin payments, 66% of them say they have limited or no understanding of how these technologies could improve their financial experience
• 37% believe there is a lack of transparency around how digital currency payments work
• 33% of Gen Z plan to increase their use of digital currency payments in the next six months, compared with 14% overall
• 41% of Gen Z expect digital currency payments to have a positive impact on their financial services experience, versus 17% of the total population
• 30% of consumers believe digital currency payments may be a passing trend
• 34% say they are concerned about how digital currency payments could affect their personal finances

Julia Demidova, Senior Director, Digital Assets Product & Strategy at FIS, said: “UK consumers are clearly curious about digital currency payments; however the data shows that trust hasn’t caught up with awareness yet. Consumers are keen to understand what is behind the scenes of this technology, who is accountable, what protections apply, and what happens if something goes wrong? As these payment types move closer to everyday use the adoption will depend on transparent rules, strong oversight and familiar safeguards”

The survey was conducted by Opinium Research in October 2025 via an online survey of 2,000 nationally representative UK adults.

FF NEWS TAKE: This research confirms that the industry must pivot its focus from product launches to education and regulatory clarity. Yes, this moves the needle by quantifying the precise hurdles to wider adoption. The critical dependency for success is clear: until financial services can provide familiar safeguards, strong oversight, and transparent rules around accountability, digital currencies will remain fringe, despite being a generational priority. Watch for incumbent banks to take the lead in integrating and demystifying stablecoin payments, leveraging their existing trust advantage.

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