More than a third of US crypto traders report cutting daily expenses and delaying major purchases as unrealized losses weigh on household finances.
The recent crypto market downturn has forced more than one in three crypto traders to reduce everyday spending, according to a new survey by CEX.IO conducted among 1,100 US-based active users of the platform.
The results show the current market slump is straining household finances, though it remains less severe than the 2022 downturn, when Bitcoin fell by roughly 75% from its peak. Bitcoin is still approximately 40% below its October 2025 high, leaving many retail investors sitting on unrealized losses.
Thirty-six percent of respondents said they reduced everyday spending as a direct result of market conditions, with 10% describing those cuts as significant sacrifices made to maintain their positions. An additional 37% reported delaying or cancelling purchases due to crypto losses, including 21% who postponed major financial commitments such as buying a home, a car, or undertaking home renovations.
"The 2025–2026 bear market has not produced the kind of systemic shock seen in past cycles (at least for now), but its effects appear to be showing up in quieter ways at the household level," CEX.IO noted in its findings.
Crypto Traders Navigate the Downturn Alone
The survey also revealed that many traders are managing the downturn in relative isolation. Only 5% said someone else knows the full extent and value of their holdings, while the majority either share limited information or keep their positions entirely private.
Financial strain is further evident in cash flow trends. While 77% said they did not take on debt tied to crypto, 38% reported some form of financial disruption since October 2025. A quarter said they relied on savings to maintain stability, and 12% admitted to missing or delaying payments.
Even so, most respondents have not dramatically changed their plans. Nearly half reported that crypto makes up more than 30% of their investable assets, yet 73% said their approach to earning income remains unchanged. Looking ahead, a combined 79% said they plan to either hold or increase their positions over the next six months.
Crypto Offerings Begin to Shape Bank Selection in Europe
A separate survey by Börse Stuttgart Digital found that cryptocurrency services are starting to influence how European investors choose their banks, with 35% saying they would consider switching institutions for better crypto offerings. The poll of around 6,000 investors across Germany, Italy, Spain, and France also found that nearly one in five expects their primary bank to provide crypto access within three years, pointing to a gradual shift toward integrating digital assets into mainstream banking.
Why it matters
The survey captures a behavioural channel — reduced consumer spending and deferred major purchases — through which crypto market losses can feed into broader household economics, even without the systemic failures seen in 2022.
The finding that only 5% of traders share the full extent of their holdings with anyone else suggests that financial stress tied to crypto positions may be largely invisible to family members, advisers, and lenders who assess household risk.
The European data point — 35% of investors willing to switch banks for better crypto offerings — indicates that digital asset access is beginning to function as a competitive differentiator in retail banking, not just a niche add-on.
