Gen Z, AI, and payments redefine crypto use in 2025

Crypto adoption rises in 2025 as payments gain practical use and AI transforms trading strategies and user experiences.

Payments and AI drive the next wave of crypto adoption
Payments and artificial intelligence (AI) are pushing crypto growth in 2025, says a report by Reown and YouGov. The survey of over 1,000 active users in the US and UK found that 37% see these two techs as the main forces shaping crypto’s future.
People in the survey have passed decentralised finance (DeFi) actions like farming and staking, though trading is still on top. About 27% think payments will become the main on-chain use in the next three to five years, showing strong trust in crypto’s real-world use.

The report shows that practical uses like remittances and gig worker pay are pushing crypto growth, turning it from a small test into part of daily systems. This trend is backed by companies paying wages in crypto, with more workers now wanting to spend digital assets directly. stake casino deposit methods (https://stakeoriginals.de/en/deposit-en/) show this change, supporting crypto for quick and easy transactions.

Reown CEO Jess Houlgrave said payments drive demand while AI makes use easier through personal tips, fraud checks, and automation. She stressed that both work together instead of replacing each other.

AI reshapes trading and user experience
AI’s role goes beyond payments. It is changing trading and development by making onboarding, auditing, and processes faster while giving users smarter help and safer deals. A separate MEXC Research study, using data from over 780,000 users, shows Gen Z’s strong use of AI trading tools.

In Q2 2025, 67% of Gen Z traders used at least one AI bot, making up 60% of all bot activity on the platform. They used these tools an average of 11.4 days each month, which is more than twice as often as older traders. They turned them on during market swings and turned them off when things were stable.

Gen Z also shows unique behaviour. They are 2.4 times more likely to trust AI-made signals over old-style indicators. They are also 1.9 times less likely to trade on impulse during market shocks.

AI bots cut panic selling by 47% compared to manual trading. They act as emotional stabilisers and show Gen Z’s ease with automation. MEXC expects that by 2028, over 80% of Gen Z traders will use AI for full portfolio management. The global AI trading platform market is expected to reach $69.96 billion by 2034.

Ownership trends show evolving use
Even with these changes, trading stays the most liked on-chain activity for 36% of users, with payments in second place. Still, 14% are most excited about new payment ideas, matching Bitcoin’s first vision as a peer-to-peer cash system.

Ownership patterns are also changing. About 63% hold Bitcoin, 48% own Ether, and stablecoin ownership has risen to 38%, passing Solana at 37%. Younger users, mainly those aged 18–34, lead in stablecoin use.

This shows a growing need for smooth multichain use that allows transactions from any wallet or exchange. Entertainment like stake games (stake spiele https://filstalexpress.de/freizeit/193251/der-hitze-und-trockenheit-entfliehen-angenehme-hobbys-fuer-zu-hause/) works in this setup, matching user needs for easy interaction across digital assets.