Generation Z – Cryptocurrencies are slowly entering areas where few would have expected them just a few years ago – such as the world of dating. A new survey by Pollfish, commissioned by the OKX crypto exchange, suggests that some of the younger generation see digital assets not only as an investment but also as part of everyday life, including paying for dates. Nevertheless, there remains a gap between interest and actual use.
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Only a small proportion of young people have actually paid with crypto
According to a January survey of a thousand American adults, 13 percent of Generation Z respondents said they had ever paid for a date with cryptocurrency. Although this is a relatively significant number, most young people do not yet use digital coins when dating.
The main problem is not a lack of interest, but rather practical obstacles. Many respondents said they did not have an easy way to pay directly with cryptocurrency—and in everyday situations, it is still easier to use a payment card than a crypto wallet.
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Cryptocurrencies as a gift and a sign of financial literacy
The survey also shows that young people do not view cryptocurrencies as just a payment tool. For example, almost a third of Generation Z respondents (31 percent) would appreciate receiving digital assets as a Valentine’s Day gift.
Financial literacy is also becoming an important factor in dating. A total of 76 percent of Gen Zers and 75 percent of millennials said that financial savvy is an attractive trait in a partner. For some young people, knowledge of investing or digital assets may be more interesting than, for example, astrology or other traditional topics of conversation.
In addition, according to 52 to 55 percent of respondents, knowledge of digital financial tools increases the attractiveness of a potential partner. However, simply owning cryptocurrencies does not have such a strong effect—only 17 percent of respondents said so overall, with 30 percent of millennials and 28 percent of Generation Z agreeing.
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Interest does not mean everyday use
The data also shows another interesting trend: approximately 29.5 percent of respondents said they have owned or still own cryptocurrencies. This suggests that curiosity about digital assets is relatively high, but does not always translate into regular use.
The gap between openness to crypto and its actual use thus remains one of the main challenges for the entire industry. Until paying with digital assets is as easy as regular contactless transactions, experts say it will remain more of a supplement than the norm.
The darker side: romantic scams involving cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies also appear in negative news stories related to dating. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a warning in 2024 about the growing number of romantic scams using digital assets, and Canadian authorities have also published similar warnings.
According to security experts, the situation is further complicated by the development of artificial intelligence. In 2025, scammers began to make more frequent use of chatbots and deepfake technology, which allow them to manipulate victims emotionally and financially directly on dating apps.
Mixed perceptions of crypto in relationships
Although some young people perceive cryptocurrencies as part of modern financial literacy, their image in the context of dating remains ambiguous. For example, a 2024 survey by the Date Psychology blog showed that women rank cryptocurrencies among the least attractive male hobbies.
The results suggest that cryptocurrencies are gradually entering the world of relationships, but more as a complement to broader financial skills than as a major factor of attraction. Generation Z may be “flirting” with digital assets, but their actual mass use in everyday life—including paying for dates—remains the exception rather than the rule.
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Generation Z flirts with cryptocurrencies
