An increasing number of Americans are turning away from gold in favor of Bitcoin ( BTC ), with about 14% of the population now opting for the cryptocurrency , surpassing those who hold the traditional safe haven. As of May 2025, approximately 49.6 million Americans have adopted Bitcoin, compared to 36.7 million who own gold , according to a River research report . American Bitcoin and gold ownership. Source: River Notably, Americans now account for 40% of all Bitcoin holders globally. This shift comes amid a growing regulatory embrace of digital currencies within the United States. The research shows that Bitcoin ownership in the U.S. cuts across socioeconomic lines, with minimal influence from race, religion, income, or political affiliation. Ownership spans all political views, especially among those who identify as politically neutral. However, it remains more common among men and younger age groups. Specifically, 40.5% of Bitcoin owners are males aged 31 to 35, followed by 35.9% of males aged 41 to 45. In contrast, only 13.4% of owners are women, indicating a significant gender gap. U.S. Bitcoin ownership by age. Source: River Shifting store of value status The shift from gold to Bitcoin significantly changes how Americans store value and build wealth. As gold’s prominence declines, Bitcoin has emerged as a mainstream investment, offering easier ownership, storage, and transactions due to its digital nature. Additionally, recent regulatory changes have made Bitcoin more accessible through financial products such as spot exchange-traded funds ( ETFs ), further accelerating adoption. This growing adoption is further supported by favorable policies, most notably, the White House’s recent designation of Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. The U.S. holds 63.3% of global government Bitcoin reserves, more than double its 29.9% share of global gold reserves. China has just 4.8% of global Bitcoin reserves and 8.4% of global gold reserves. At the same time, gold’s status as a safe-haven asset remains significant, especially given its strong performance in 2025. The precious metal has seen increased capital inflows amid rising economic uncertainty driven by trade tensions. Meanwhile, Bitcoin continues to trade above the $100,000 mark search of a new all-time high. As of press time, the cryptocurrency was valued at $106,700, reflecting a 1.5% gain over the past 24 hours. Featured image via Shutterstock The post 50 million Americans now own Bitcoin, ditching gold appeared first on Finbold .
