- A CoinGecko survey shows only 55% of new crypto owners start with Bitcoin in their portfolio.
- 10% of survey participants have never bought Bitcoin.
- Experts suggest market maturity and the appeal of low-cost altcoins drive this trend.
- Bitcoin’s role is changing, but it remains a key reference point in the crypto market.
A recent survey from CoinGecko reports that only about half of new cryptocurrency owners began their investment journey with Bitcoin. The survey, published on Monday, gathered responses from 2,549 crypto participants and indicates a significant shift in market entry trends.
According to CoinGecko, 55% of newcomers included Bitcoin in their initial portfolio while 10% said they have never bought Bitcoin. The remaining respondents primarily gained their first exposure through alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins), decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens, or memecoins.
“Bitcoin has become less likely to be the onboarding mechanism over time, as other narratives and altcoin communities have emerged and gained traction,” stated CoinGecko research analyst Yuqian Lim in the report. The survey reports that 37% of respondents entered the market through altcoins.
Jonathon Miller, general manager at crypto exchange Kraken, noted that this shift points to a growing and maturing crypto ecosystem. “Bitcoin is no longer the only major asset, while access is becoming increasingly frictionless,” he said. Miller explained that while some may circle back to Bitcoin in times of uncertainty, users now have more options when entering the market.
Hank Huang, CEO of Kronos Research, said that many new investors are attracted by the lower unit cost of altcoins and strong community vibes. He added, “More investors will bypass Bitcoin, drawn to lower-cap altcoins and vibrant communities. This reflects a maturing market where diversification drives participation.” The survey notes the increased interest in assets like Solana (SOL), Ethereum (ETH), and memecoins.
Tom Bruni from Stocktwits suggested that some users avoid Bitcoin because of its high price, which surpassed $124,000 in August 2025. “Onlookers may feel that if they didn’t acquire Bitcoin at lower levels, then they’ve already missed the boat,” Bruni said. He added that as more blockchain technologies grow, Bitcoin’s dominance could decrease but it will likely stay a central part of many portfolios.
Qin En Looi of Onigiri Capital pointed out that as traditional finance integrates with crypto, fewer people will have zero exposure to Bitcoin. He stated that Bitcoin will likely maintain its benchmark status, similar to Gold in traditional finance, even as other forms of crypto technology become more relevant.
For those interested in further data, the full research is available on the official CoinGecko report.
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