OSC survey: more advisors recommending crypto as ownership climbs
The survey found that 30 per cent of those with a financial advisor owned crypto, while 44 per cent of self-directed investors did. Overall, 39 per cent of investors owned some type of crypto product.
Views on the asset class also shifted. The OSC reported that 43 per cent of Canadians believed crypto assets currently play a key role in the financial system, up from 26 per cent in 2023, and that 52 per cent expected them to play a key role in the future, compared with 34 per cent two years earlier. Among those aware of crypto, 38 per cent said they were highly likely to buy, up 18 percentage points since 2023. Diversification, belief in the underlying technology and speculation were the most common reasons given for buying.
The survey also examined newer products. The OSC said awareness of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets, or RWA tokens, remained relatively low, but that 74 per cent of those aware of RWA tokens would consider buying them if their main bank or investment firm offered them.
On investor protection, the OSC said half of crypto owners checked whether their trading platform was registered before using it, up from 38 per cent in 2023. It said working knowledge of crypto nonetheless remained limited, with persistent misunderstanding of how the assets are regulated, whether they are insured and how transactions work. It also said 15 per cent of trading-platform users had experienced a financial loss through a scam, fraud or hacking incident.
“Crypto markets continue to evolve, and Canadians are participating in them more than ever before,” said Naizam Kanji, executive vice president, strategic regulation at the OSC. He said the research helps the regulator anticipate opportunities and risks while supporting investor protection and fair, efficient markets.
