45% of Gen Z adults say they would be happy to receive crypto as a gift this holiday season—here's what experts say

Related StoriesForget toys and collectibles, crypto might be a hot ticket item this holiday season. In the U.S. 45% of Gen Z adults aged 18 to 28 said they would be excited to receive cryptocurrency as a holiday gift this year, according to a global survey of 1,000 adults conducted by payment technology company Visa in October.How wise it is to gift crypto is a separate matter, and the expert advice varies.Given how volatile and speculative cryptocurrencies are, they can be risky and are ill-advised if you're looking to gift an asset that will grow in value, says Flavio Landivar, a certified financial planner and senior financial advisor at Evensky and Katz/Foldes Wealth Management in Coral Gables, Florida.Unlike publicly traded stocks or exchange-traded funds that represent ownership of a tangible asset like a business, cryptocurrencies have no "real, underlying intrinsic value," Landivar says."It's to be determined exactly how that plays out into the future, but for the time being, it's basically worth what somebody else is willing to pay for it," which can lead to erratic changes in value and sudden drops in price that may be unlikely to rebound, Landivar says. If you decide to give crypto, "any gift should be positioned as a long-term, educational experience rather than a stable investment," says Ashton Lawrence, a CPF and director and senior wealth advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors in Greenville, South Carolina. If you're looking for an investment that has a higher likelihood of growing over time, stick to exchange-traded funds that track a wide range of equities, he says.Gifts of around $50 during birthdays and holidays are a "great place to start" giving crypto, says Mike Casey, a CFP, early bitcoin adopter and president of American Executive Advisors in McLean, Virginia. "We're not talking about thousands and thousands of dollars."Casey recommends gifting bitcoin over other cryptocurrencies since it has the most global adoption and a fixed supply — meaning its value could one day behave as if it were a physical metal, he says. It's also the oldest cryptocurrency, and historically, every time bitcoin has fallen from a high, the value of the currency has rebounded and grown even more, Casey says. In the past five years, the price of bitcoin in U.S. dollars is up nearly $74,000, an increase of just over 400%. The cryptocurrency was trading around $86,000 Monday, 32% down from its all-time high of $126,000 in October. While many gifts can help build financial awareness, Casey says bitcoin's volatile nature makes it uniquely suited to teach the importance of disciplined investing. Tracking that initial gift year over year can help young investors grow comfortable with the natural ups and downs that come with investing, he says."This is what investing is all about," Casey says. "We want to have a long-term goal. They're learning that a little bit of volatility is actually OK."Want to give your kids the ultimate advantage? Sign up for CNBC's new online course, How to Raise Financially Smart Kids. Learn how to build healthy financial habits today to set your children up for greater success in the future. Use coupon code EARLYBIRD for 30% off. Offer valid from Dec. 8 to Dec. 22, 2025. Terms apply.CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inboxLearn more about the world of CNBC Make It© 2025 Versant Media, LLC.

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