The latest “Cryptocurrency Awareness and Perception Survey 2026” conducted by Paribu in collaboration with FutureBright Group has unveiled a significant increase in cryptocurrency engagement within Turkey. According to the study, the proportion of individuals transacting in crypto assets has reached a noteworthy 37%, highlighting a shift toward diversifying investment portfolios and leveraging artificial intelligence in investment decisions.
Survey Reveals Rising Trust and Diversified Portfolios
This seventh edition of the annual survey, conducted between July and August 2026, involved 1,999 participants aged 18 to 55, representing 12 regions across Turkey. For the first time, an online survey method was employed. Initially, only 1% of participants reported cryptocurrency transactions, a figure which rose to 25% in 2023, 31% in 2025, and now stands at 37%. Meanwhile, those not engaged in crypto dealings decreased from 69% to 63%. A significant 71% of current investors found cryptocurrency transactions easy, with daily traders reporting this ease at an impressive 94%.
Trust in cryptocurrency as a reliable investment tool has also risen, with overall confidence increasing from 42% to 46%. Among those transacting, this figure soared to 76%, while 91% of daily traders expressed trust in crypto. Conversely, the percentage of non-traders citing insecurity as a deterrent fell from 47% to 42%.
Bitcoin Remains Dominant; AI and Platform Preference Come to Fore
Bitcoin remains the most recognized cryptocurrency, with 99.5% of respondents aware of it and the association of Bitcoin with “cryptocurrency” rising from 25% to 30%—surpassing “virtual/digital money” for the first time. Among crypto traders, 70% conducted transactions in Bitcoin, with 59% of them holding BTC for investment purposes. Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Shiba Inu saw investment holding rates of 48%, 33%, and 28% respectively.
Notably, 56% of cryptocurrency traders have shifted their crypto investments to other asset classes within the past year. Gold topped these reallocation choices at 26%, followed by stocks and exchanges at 19%, and Turkish lira deposits at 9%. While a significant portion of traders cited market downturns and volatility as reasons for their shift, a substantial number moved assets to realize gains. Despite these shifts, 60% reported that their initial investment choice remained cryptocurrency.
Investor portfolios are becoming increasingly diverse, as 32% of traders now engage with three or more different crypto assets. The use of Solana rose from 11% to 18%, Shiba Inu from 11% to 16%, and USDC from 6% to 13% over the past year. Ethereum’s recognition among participants stood at 71%, climbing to 82% among crypto traders, while awareness of stablecoins like USDT and USDC also saw an increase.
The survey highlights the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing investment decisions. Of those trading in crypto, 53% frequently or consistently incorporated AI in their investment strategies, with 87% of daily traders doing so. A willingness to entrust crypto portfolio management to an AI assistant was expressed by 37% of all participants, jumping to 43% among those actively trading.
Moreover, platform selection has seen a shift, as preferences for local or foreign platforms became more pronounced. The importance of this distinction rose from 40% to 50% overall, with 69% among crypto traders. Among those valuing this distinction, 75% opted for local platforms, with 85% doing so within the trading group that considers this an essential criterion.
Speed and ease of use have emerged as the top priorities for cryptocurrency platforms, growing from 44% to 57%, followed by low commission fees at 54% and robust security systems at 53%.
The data suggests that despite the growing prominence of cryptocurrency, investors are not solely relying on these assets, as reallocations to gold and other instruments indicate a dynamic adaptation to market conditions. Additionally, artificial intelligence is playing a pivotal role in the decision-making processes of frequent traders, illustrating its growing importance in the investment landscape.
