Bitcoin's "midlife crisis": How can veteran cryptos win over Gen Z?
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Bitcoin's "midlife crisis": How can veteran cryptos win over Gen Z?
Bitcoin faces a new existential threat, not from Washington, Beijing, or supercomputers, but from generations of apathy.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsBy: Christina Comben
Translation: Saoirse, Foresight News
Bitcoin began as an obscure "niche thing." It wasn't a Silicon Valley innovation nor the result of central bank discussions. Instead, it emerged amid the aftermath of the global financial crisis—perfectly timed and inherently disruptive.
The mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto published a whitepaper on the cypherpunk mailing list, proposing a peer-to-peer payment network capable of bypassing the flawed mechanisms of the post-2008 financial system.
Back then, Bitcoin was "antagonistic money," a direct tool of resistance against bailouts, bank failures, and central planning. Early adopters saw themselves as "digital rebels," building infrastructure for a new kind of "free money"—one that was censorship-resistant, borderless, and immune to the whims of officials or the breakdowns of outdated institutions. On January 17, 2009, Nakamoto posted:
"Maybe it's best to get some Bitcoin while it's still cheap, in case it catches on. If enough people think this way, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."
From "Rebel Pioneer" to "Institutional Darling"
Over 15 years, Bitcoin evolved from an obscure technical whitepaper into a global monetary network worth over $2 trillion. The once-unimaginable dream of regulatory acceptance is now within reach: starting with cautious regulatory probes, culminating in headline-grabbing official endorsements. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant remarked on Bitcoin’s anniversary:
"Seventeen years after the whitepaper, the Bitcoin network continues to operate stably—and with greater resilience than ever before. Bitcoin will never 'go down.'"
Each milestone—from spot ETF approvals and Wall Street pouring in billions, to U.S. legislation and public companies adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets—suggests this original rebel has conquered peak after peak.
But accompanying "legitimacy" comes a subtler, slower-burning threat: "relevance." Even world-changing technologies depend entirely on whether their narrative resonates. And clearly, younger generations aren’t buying Bitcoin’s story.
Bitcoin’s "Obituaries" Pile Up
Writing Bitcoin’s obituary has become a tiresome cliché (one might even call it an "industry"). From early code ambiguity and the Mt. Gox exchange’s catastrophic hack, to China’s mining ban, harsh regulatory crackdowns, and the looming threat of quantum computing—there have been over 450 headlines declaring "Bitcoin is dead."
Warren Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha," once called Bitcoin a "waste of time"; JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon mocked:
"I’ve always been totally opposed to cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, all that stuff. Its only real use is facilitating crime, drug dealing... money laundering, tax evasion. If I were running the government, I’d shut it down immediately."
Yet every crisis seems to strengthen Bitcoin’s "immunity." Whether facing regulatory panic, security breaches, or bear market winters, the Bitcoin network keeps running, blocks keep being mined, and a new narrative emerges: Bitcoin is "unstoppable."
This belief has permeated all levels—even Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly stated:
"Bitcoin—how can anyone ban it? No one can. Who could ban other electronic payment tools? Again, no one—because these are entirely new technologies."
In fact, for digital-native millennials, Bitcoin has already become the spiritual successor to gold: resilient, and—if survival counts as an advantage—almost "immortal."
But as Jameson Lopp, Chief Security Officer at crypto security firm Casa and Bitcoin security expert, previously told CryptoSlate: Bitcoin’s greatest threat isn’t technological breakthroughs or regulatory battles. By 2025, the real threat is "apathy"—too few young people care enough to pay attention.
Gen Z: No Money, No Bitcoin
Gen Z ("Zoomers") grew up with iPhones and Instagram, raised on YouTube and TikTok. Coming of age in the fatigue of "late capitalism," they are rewriting economic rules.
The average Gen Z graduate faces stagnant wages, unaffordable housing, disappearing entry-level jobs, and soaring credit card debt. When the horizon of "the future" barely extends beyond the next paycheck, why save value for tomorrow? As Sean Ristau, VP of Digital Assets at InvestiFi, told CryptoSlate:
"Bitcoin started as a direct challenge to the financial system—a form of protest. Now it’s more like 'digital gold,' largely controlled by giants and banks. For young people struggling with inflation, debt, and rising living costs, this image simply doesn’t resonate."
No matter how "strong" Bitcoin appears in the market, to many in Gen Z, it carries a suspicious whiff of "Boomer energy." Bitcoin’s earliest supporters bear the battle scars of the 2008 financial crisis, while Gen Z is familiar only with meme stocks, Robinhood options trading, and tokens like Dogecoin.
Jeff Park, CIO at ProCap BTC and advisor at Bitwise, warns that Bitcoin’s narrative must evolve. He believes Gen Z seeks "meaning," not just inflation hedges:
"At the end of the day, if young people don’t embrace Bitcoin, the entire logic of Bitcoin collapses."
On a recent episode of the podcast "The Bitcoin Story," crypto advocate American HODL admitted:
"Gen Z’s lack of interest in Bitcoin is actually a big problem—because they’re too 'nihilistic.' We must consistently reach out, try to awaken them, tell them: 'Bro, for your own sake and self-preservation, act now while there’s still time!' Both reasons matter."
Political Divide: The Red vs. Blue "Bitcoin Ownership Race"
The partisan divide around Bitcoin has never been sharper. As the Biden administration intensifies its "Choke Point 2.0" campaign against crypto businesses, Democrats’ stance has hardened into: "Crypto is harmful; regulation is essential."
In contrast, MAGA-aligned Republicans, libertarian hardliners, and some moderate centrists now view supporting Bitcoin as a way to signal "fiscal independence and national renewal."
(Note: MAGA stands for "Make America Great Again," originally the core slogan of former U.S. President Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, later becoming a symbolic ideology for his supporters, related political movements, and conservative factions.)
But Gen Z couldn’t care less. They flock to online communities where unity matters more than speculation. Bitcoin’s political narrative—once about "freedom from government control"—now competes against rising economic anxiety and widespread distrust toward the U.S. government and all institutions. Park warns:
"There’s a reason left-wing candidates don’t support Bitcoin in elections—not because they fear 'the system,' but because they believe supporting Bitcoin would harm their interests. That’s absolutely bad. For Bitcoin to succeed, it must become a platform for 'Bitcoin and Mandana' (left-wing politicians), not just 'Bitcoin and Ackman' (right-wing capitalists)."
As Trump and more Republicans hail Bitcoin as "patriotic technology," left-leaning Gen Z turns instead to socialist leaders like Zolan Mandana. To them, Bitcoin has become a "libertarian side hustle" (or worse)—part of the "old guard." By any measure, it’s no longer the street-smart "rebel" it once was.
Why Doesn’t Bitcoin’s Ideology Resonate With Youth?
Bitcoin’s original core propositions—"escape bank control, inflation-resistant savings, non-confiscatable digital assets"—simply don’t ignite much passion among young people. To them, money feels less like a "fortress to defend" and more like "points in an infinite game": constantly flowing, constantly shifting. As Jamie Elkaleh, Chief Marketing Officer at Bitget Wallet, told CryptoSlate:
"Gen Z’s investment culture is faster, more social, and heavily meme-driven. They lean toward community-led tokens, AI-linked assets, and creator economies—because these give them a sense of 'participation' and align with their digital behavior patterns. Young users often see Bitcoin as an asset for 'funds and treasuries,' not a platform they can directly engage with... While Bitcoin’s 'digital gold' narrative offers security and prestige, it lacks 'interactivity' and 'purpose-driven energy'—exactly what this generation demands from financial participation."
Ristau adds:
"Crypto ownership is rising rapidly (over half of Gen Z has held digital assets), but Bitcoin’s user base remains skewed toward older, wealthier, and predominantly male demographics. Young users chase entirely different things: purpose-driven meme coins, AI-related tokens, and fun, practical, or community-driven social or gaming projects. So where exactly is the disconnect?"
A "Demographic Problem" or a "Demographic Opportunity"?
Is it surprising that young people under 25 feel increasingly disillusioned with the world and their place in it? Sky-high inflation, blocked wealth-building paths, and total distrust in the institutions their parents relied on—these are their lived realities.
Paradoxically, this very困境 may spark Bitcoin’s next wave of adoption. Grant Cardone, CEO of Cardone Capital, told CryptoSlate:
"Bitcoin doesn’t have a 'youth problem.' The real issue isn’t the age of holders, but mindset. People told Gen Z: 'Trade meme coins, don’t accumulate wealth,' so they chase quick gains instead of long-term, inheritable assets. Bitcoin is designed for 'long-term thinkers'—those who understand that 'control, scarcity, freedom' are the foundation of wealth."
From this perspective, Bitcoin’s so-called "demographic problem" looks more like a "demographic opportunity." A new wave led by a generation eager for digital ownership may be on the horizon. As Elkaleh emphasizes:
"The root of Bitcoin’s 'youth problem' lies in the widening gap between its 'institutional maturity' and 'cultural relevance.' Young investors’ willingness to hold hasn’t disappeared—but their first point of contact with crypto is increasingly 'culturally relevant assets,' not Bitcoin. While institutions and ETFs boost Bitcoin’s credibility, they’ve also shifted its center away from 'grassroots' and 'native online communities.'"
Bridging the Gap: How Can Bitcoin Integrate Into Youth Culture?
So how can Bitcoin break through its current reality of "older investor dominance" and attract Gen Z creators, gamers, and digital entrepreneurs? The answer lies in "utility, trust, and cultural integration." Cardone’s take is blunt:
"Bitcoin doesn’t need to 'change itself' for Gen Z; Gen Z needs to 'wake up to Bitcoin.' But I’ll tell you three things that must happen to make Bitcoin more appealing: education, empowerment, and experience."
Ristau believes the focus should shift more toward "Bitcoin’s utility" and "growing real-world use cases globally." He notes:
"Inflation resistance, financial freedom, lower global remittance costs—these are key selling points. Crypto remittances have grown over 400% in recent years. That’s the story that should be front and center."
Elkaleh also stresses that Bitcoin’s narrative needs "refreshing"—and must be firmly rooted in "practicality":
"Equally important is updating the narrative framework. 'Digital gold' resonates with institutions and long-term investors, but fails to explain Bitcoin’s 'practical value' for ordinary people. For young users, Bitcoin’s 'relevance' lies in what it enables—privacy protection, self-custody, censorship resistance, and supporting mission-driven transactions. Linking these core principles to concrete scenarios like 'cross-border remittances' or 'community donations' allows Bitcoin’s meaning to transcend mere 'price volatility.'"
Bitcoin has survived more existential threats than any other digital artifact. It weathered Wall Street skepticism and withstood regulatory pressure. But its greatest threat may be "losing its youthful spark"—the rebels, dreamers, and builders who gave Bitcoin its soul.
Will Bitcoin ultimately become a "museum exhibit" or a "world-changing currency"? As always, the answer depends on "how many people are willing to carry its torch."
In the end, the survival of "free money" hinges on transforming its narrative from "legacy asset" to "meaningful story." Bitcoin was never meant to be boring. To thrive for the next decade and beyond, it needs "vitality," not just "value."
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