CEX.IO Survey Finds 36% of U.S. Crypto Traders Cut Living Expenses After Downturn

A new CEX.IO survey described how the 2025–2026 crypto downturn is translating into day-to-day financial trade-offs for retail traders in the United States.

“A new survey from CEX”

Bitbo

Cointelegraph reported that a CEX.IO survey of 1,100 active U.S.-based users found 36 percent said they reduced living expenses because of market conditions, and 10 percent said those cuts involved “substantial sacrifices to maintain their positions.”

Bitbo

The survey also found that 37 percent postponed or cancelled purchases due to crypto losses, including 21 percent who delayed major spending such as buying a home or car, or home renovations.

Bitcoin was described as “hovering about 40 percent below its October 2025 peak,” leaving many retail investors holding unrealized losses.

Cointelegraph and crypto.news both quoted CEX.IO’s framing that “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.”

The same CEX.IO survey said 77 percent reported they did not take on debt tied to crypto, while 38 percent reported some form of financial disruption since October 2025.

Even with the pressure, the survey said 79 percent planned to either hold or increase their positions over the next six months.

Beyond spending cuts, the CEX.IO survey described how some traders were managing cash-flow stress without taking on new crypto-linked debt.

Cointelegraph reported that while 77 percent said they did not take on debt tied to crypto, 38 percent reported some form of financial disruption since October 2025.

Cointelegraph

The survey said “A quarter said they relied on savings to maintain stability,” and “12% admitted to missing or delaying payments,” tying household strain to bill timing and liquidity.

TradingView’s version of the same survey similarly stated that “A quarter said they relied on savings to maintain stability, and 12% admitted to missing or delaying payments,” and it reiterated that 77 percent did not take on debt tied to crypto.

Cointelegraph also reported that 12 percent admitted to missing or delaying payments, while 38 percent reported financial setbacks since October 2025, and it described the downturn as “less severe than in 2022, when Bitcoin fell about 75 percent from its peak.”

In addition to cash-flow pressure, the survey emphasized that many traders were coping in isolation rather than sharing the full scope of their losses.

Only 5 percent 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.

The survey’s portrait of household impact also included a social dimension: many traders were not disclosing the size of their crypto positions.

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Cointribune

Cointelegraph reported that “Only 5% said someone else knows the full extent and value of their holdings,” and it said the majority either share limited information or keep their positions entirely private.

The same figure appeared in crypto.news, which stated that “Only 5% said someone else knows the full value and size of their crypto holdings.”

Bitbo’s version added a different disclosure breakdown, saying “Only 5% have someone who knows exactly how much crypto they hold and what it is currently worth,” and it also claimed “18% keep it entirely private.”

Cointribune similarly emphasized that “Only 5 % of respondents say another person knows the actual extent of their crypto holdings,” and it described the rest as preferring partial or complete confidentiality.

This privacy theme was paired with the survey’s finding that the downturn was not producing a “system-level shock,” but was instead showing up in “quieter ways at the household level.”

Cointelegraph quoted CEX.IO that “many traders are managing the downturn in relative isolation,” and it tied that isolation to limited sharing of holdings.

Despite the spending cuts and cash-flow disruptions described in the CEX.IO survey, the articles consistently reported that many traders intended to keep their positions.

Cointelegraph said “Looking ahead, a combined 79% said they plan to either hold or increase their positions over the next six months.”

crypto.news

The same 79 percent figure was repeated by TradingView, which said “Looking ahead, a combined 79% said they plan to either hold or increase their positions over the next six months.”

crypto.news also reported that “79% said they plan to hold or increase their crypto positions over the next six months,” and it tied that outlook to continued exposure despite unrealized losses.

The survey also described income strategy stability, with Cointelegraph stating that “73% said their approach to earning income remains unchanged,” and TradingView repeating that “73% said their approach to earning income remains unchanged.”

Bitbo’s version added more detail on how traders viewed their decisions, reporting that “Fifty-one percent plan to hold their positions regardless of short-term price action, while 28% plan to add more if prices stay flat or fall further.”

It also reported that “41% said they would have set clearer rules for when to take profits and stuck to them.”

Separate from the household-spending findings, the articles also described a European survey suggesting that crypto services are influencing how investors choose banks.

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MEXC

Cointelegraph reported that “Another survey by Börse Stuttgart Digital earlier this week found that cryptocurrency services are starting to influence how European investors choose their banks,” and it said “35%” of respondents would consider switching institutions for better crypto offerings.

TradingView

The coverage said the poll involved “around 6,000 investors across Germany, Italy, Spain and France,” and it found that “nearly one in five expects their primary bank to provide crypto access within three years.”

TradingView echoed the same figures, stating that “with 35% saying they would consider switching institutions for better crypto offerings” and that “nearly one in five expects their primary bank to provide crypto access within three years.”

The same theme appeared in the MEXC and crypto.news articles, which both described the shift toward integrating digital assets into mainstream banking.

Cointelegraph added that the survey pointed to “a gradual shift toward integrating digital assets into mainstream banking,” and it framed the change as a move beyond price declines into consumer financial decisions.

Together, the reporting suggested that even as some traders cut daily spending, they were still looking ahead—either to hold or increase positions, or to seek financial institutions that provide crypto access.