A recent Morgan Stanley survey revealed a rise in non-ownership of cryptocurrencies among interns in Europe, as highlighted by Tom Lee from Bitmine. This may indicate limited societal acceptance of cryptocurrencies.
Rising Crypto Non-Ownership Among Interns
Tom Lee referenced data from the Morgan Stanley survey showing that the share of interns without cryptocurrency ownership has increased from 69% in 2024 to 82% in 2025. According to Lee, this reflects an early stage of cryptocurrency adoption in society.
> "The sharp increase in crypto non-ownership rates among younger finance professionals signals that while prices rally, skepticism remains prominent, indicating we are still in the early adoption phase." - Tom Lee, Chairman, Bitmine
Decline in Crypto Ownership
The survey results highlight ongoing skepticism regarding cryptocurrencies, but also suggest the potential for market growth as adoption increases. For instance, ownership of BTC and ETH among this demographic has declined, while XRP ownership has increased slightly from 0% to 5%.
Future Market Predictions
Historically, spikes in non-ownership often precede increases in cryptocurrency adoption. Analysis of previous bear markets shows that similar trends eventually led to significant gains for cryptocurrencies. Based on historical data, increased institutional participation typically results in large-scale market expansions.
Thus, the rise of non-ownership among young professionals, according to Tom Lee, may signal that the market is still in its early stages, but potential changes in sentiment could lead to future growth.
