ICONOMI Archives

Despite being around for more than 15 years now, cryptocurrency is still treated as something new. It’s not part of the establishment, despite the fact that it’s rapidly heading that way, and still carries a whiff of rebellion. So, when people talk of crypto investors, the image remains of the young, highly computer-literate, glued to their screens as they mine for tokens and dream of their next big win, no thought of risk in their heads. The capital tells a very different story.

In 2026, the most important crypto users are not the commitment-free youths, but rather the over-35s. The 35-54 age group dominates assets under management (AUM), quietly funding the ecosystem, while being quietly underserved. While younger users hold the most accounts, explore interfaces, and track prices, they lack the disposable income to move into investment. If crypto lay in their hands, the system would rapidly crumble through want of deposits. So, why is it that the active investors, the quiet, patient, systematic, and loyal, are still being next to ignored?

Why the 35-54s Dominate Crypto Investment

If you really think about it, there’s little mystery as to why the 35-54s are playing such an important role in crypto. First, they have capital. By their late 30s and 40s, most people have reached their peak earning years. Their careers are established, their lives are more stable, and their mortgages are becoming more manageable. While most wouldn’t openly state that they have surplus capital, most have a bit ‘put by’ and are looking for ways to help it grow.

Secondly, they have the requisite understanding. This is the generation that grew up alongside technology. Many were early crypto adopters. Others were simply observers, but they understand what happened in the build up to crypto – the dot-com boom and bust, the 2008 financial crisis, and the rise of FinTech. They know the risk of inflation and the need for a hedge when you’re trying to protect your capital. And for many of them, crypto is that hedge, and they treat is seriously.

Thirdly, they have the time to watch their investment grow. They don’t need immediate wins, as nice as that would be. They’re willing to wait for their strategies to come to fruition, even if they’re years in the making. And that’s what makes them so incredibly important to the crypto industry. So, why do crypto companies continue to neglect them?

How the Industry Still Neglects its Biggest Users

Crypto platforms remain almost entirely youth orientated. The interfaces, the gamified rewards, the meme-driven notifications; these are not the tools for calm decision-making, but rather constant and frenetic engagement. The language is built around jargon, slang, and irony, which can’t help but feel childish, like a teen playing up to impress someone a little older. There’s too much bravado and not enough substance, meaning that crypto platforms are entirely missing the mark, chasing customers without money and ignoring the serious investors who have the capital to keep the sector moving.

And this is felt nowhere more than in the lack of service. Structured support, human accountability, and clear escalation pathways are almost entirely lacking from the crypto space. When something goes wrong, users are pushed toward bots, forums, or self-help articles.

While new investors with waiting capital and no experience have no resources available to guide them into crypto investment, so turn to traditional finance instead. Where structure, transparency, and trust were embedded long ago.

Why it’s Time for Crypto Platforms to Grow Up

If crypto truly wants to become part of the financial establishment, rather than endlessly railing against it, it must mature alongside its users. That doesn’t mean abandoning innovation or decentralisation, but rather recognising that credibility relies upon so much than those two factors. It’s about design choices, language, and service.

For crypto companies, this means investing in simplicity, clarity, and usability. Creating a system that values communication, supports investors, builds confidence, and prioritises portfolio health. Where accountability is clear, and platform users can truly understand how risk is managed, and what they can do when something goes wrong.

And this is essential – not for the investors, because when it comes down to it, they are free to take their capital elsewhere. It’s essential because these are the users who are feeding the crypto industry. The 35-54s aren’t a niche to be pandered to if you’re struggling with the rest of the market; they are the stable core of sustainable financial investment that the crypto infrastructure needs. They are doing now what the 20-year-olds the industry is obsessing over will only be able to do in 15-20 years’ time. And with their money, they are bringing legitimacy to industry. But they can – and will – only keep doing that if the crypto space begins to serve them properly.

There’s no question over whether the crypto industry will grow up. It has to. The need for regulatory compliance will eventually see to that. What remains to be seen is whether it will grow up quickly enough to benefit from the continued investment from the people who are currently trying to carry it forward.

Learn more at ICONOMI

SHARE THIS STORY

Blockchain & Crypto
Digital Payments

Launched between June 2023 and December 2024, the European Union’s (EU) Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation was the first of its kind. It introduced a need for compliance into a space that had previously been beyond the remit of any governmental oversight. It was an exercise that could only be contentious. So, it’s hardly surprising that it’s been met by scrutiny and criticism. But while MiCA is a cause for concern to many within the EU, for the UK it could potentially be beneficial.

Why the EU is struggling with MiCA

The MiCA regulation has drawn significant criticism from both industry insiders and analysts, with concerns broadly converging around five main issues. Chief among them is the glaring omission of stablecoins from MiCA’s scope. Given that the digital currency is seen as one of the riskiest crypto assets due to its systemic volatility, as well as its potential to destabilise not only the crypto markets but the broader financial system, this exclusion has raised multiple eyebrows. So, the EU’s decision to regulate the rest of the crypto space while leaving stablecoins unregulated is widely regarded as both bizarre and problematic. It also undermines the perceived effectiveness of MiCA. This makes its more stringent provisions seem almost futile, while stablecoins are left unfettered.

On the other hand, in the areas MiCA does cover, there are growing fears that the regulation could stifle the innovation that has been central to the crypto sector’s rapid progression. Breakthrough technologies, such as blockchain, tokenised assets, and decentralised finance, have all emerged from the crypto space. But now, with compliance costs climbing, smaller companies and startups – the traditional drivers of innovation – are being pushed out of the EU’s crypto market. This risks stagnating growth across the industry.

Compounding the issue is MiCA’s apparent lack of futureproofing. Despite its rigid framework, it appears to hold no contingencies for future technological developments or emerging threats. This could potentially leave loopholes for fraudulent activity and other bad actors.

Additionally, there remain concerns regarding the cost of compliance. With this likely to be passed on to consumers, it holds the potential to raise barriers to entry while driving investors toward more affordable, less regulated markets – potentially including the UK.

Lastly, the delayed release of MiCA’s regulatory technical standards (RTS) – which were not made available until more than 18 months after the legislation began to come into play – created prolonged uncertainty during implementation. Uncertainty that could have been avoided. It may also have helped resolve other concerns if addressed earlier.

Collectively, these issues have cast a shadow over what could have been a positive move for the crypto space, bringing authenticity, accountability, and stability. The question is, how could MiCA’s failure to do all this help the UK’s crypto space?

MiCA’s impact on the UK

If the UK is clever, there are two ways in which it could use the problems with MiCA to its own advantage.

Better Regulation

With the EU was the first territory to roll out crypto regulation, it won’t be a lone player for long. The UK is currently in the process of preparing its own version of MiCA. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is suggesting 2026 implementation. MiCA can provide the learning experience that the EU lacked. It doesn’t just offer a potential framework – it shows why the traditional financial regulatory framework, adopted by MiCA, is unsuited to the crypto space. It provides clear, working examples of what not to do. But it also provides points of success that the UK can build upon – because despite the detractors, there are many good things about MiCA. The FCA can use all of this information to build a better regulatory infrastructure that limits the potential for fraud and dishonest behaviours, while helping to foster future growth and innovation – something that the crypto space has long been crying out for.

If the UK does well with this, it could set the global standard for crypto regulation, raising its status in an area where it has previously been lacking.

Market growth

Before we get to regulation, however, there is also the potential for the UK market to benefit from the EU’s troubles. Right now, the EU’s crypto investors and startups are unhappy and looking for alternative places to put their money. The UK could be one of those places.

The UK has has only really ever dabbled in crypto. After more than 15 years, there are only around 40 registered crypto businesses in the UK, compared to more than 2,000 in the EU, and 4,852 in America. This could be the time for the UK to grow. The US is currently in a state of political and financial turmoil, making many investors wary. By contrast, the UK is a friendly near-neighbour, with a near-universal language. It won’t take much to tempt European investors and startups across – something that could be sustainable, if the FCA makes the right regulatory decisions.

ICONOMI – Growing the UK Crypto Market

ICONOMI is in the process of doing this. We’re officially licensed in the UK and preparing to enter the EU market under a MiCA license. This means, we’ll shortly have the ability to passport our license in other EU member states. This means the ability to attract customers from other territories across the EU. If other UK crypto businesses follow suit, there is significant potential to generate growth for the UK crypto market. For the short and longer term.

Cryptocurrency was never intended to go mainstream. When Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin, they had a vision of a currency that could operate outside of traditional financial institutions and regulation. Meanwhile, providing transparency and trust through technology. But the space evolved beyond expectation, creating more than 25,000 other cryptocurrencies in the process. They are worth literally billions of pounds, and millions of people have a stake in the market. If the crypto market crashes, it could significantly impact the wider economic ecosystem globally. So, no one is arguing against the fact that the crypto space needs regulation. Only that it needs to be regulated properly. And the UK could be the country to do that.

Peter Curk is the CEO of ICONOMI, a leading platform in digital asset management. With a background in finance and blockchain, Peter is passionate about making crypto investing accessible and easy for everyone. Under his leadership, ICONOMI has grown into a trusted name in the industry, offering innovative solutions for individuals and institutions alike.