Gemini’s survey of 2,300 people in the UK found 18% had some type of cryptocurrency investment, with nearly half  (45%) investing for the first time last year.

The research suggests a significant jump in crypto ownership across the past 12 months, with research from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimating that just 3.9% to 4.4% of Brits had invested in the asset last year. This jump coincides with a rally for the market, with Bitcoin reaching an all-time high of over $68,000 in November 2021.

In a comment, Gemini’s UK boss Blair Halliday said, “2021 was transformational for UK cryptocurrency ownership. Confidence in and awareness of crypto has increased dramatically.”

“We believe education is the key to enabling wider audiences to safely access and capitalise on the immense opportunities that crypto represents.”