Survey reveals Brazilians prefer cryptocurrency over stocks and gold

A recent survey commissioned by Coinbase and Hashdex highlights the growing popularity of cryptocurrency among Brazilian investors, surpassing traditional options like stocks, gold, and foreign currency.

The study, conducted by Datafolha and Paradigma Education, interviewed over 2,000 participants across Brazil to understand investment trends.

The survey found that savings accounts remain the most popular investment tool in Brazil, followed by real estate, which attracted 31% of respondents.

Cryptocurrency ranked fifth, with 16% of Brazilians engaging in digital asset investments.

Despite trailing behind savings accounts and real estate, crypto outperformed other traditional investments such as dollars, bonds, gold, and stocks.

Experts attribute this trend to Brazil's openness to new technologies and the appeal of stablecoins over physical banknotes.

Paula Zogbi from fintech Nomad noted that many Brazilian investors are drawn to high-risk, high-reward markets, evidenced by their preference for volatile assets like cryptocurrency.

“This reflects a willingness to expose portfolios to assets sensitive to news events without relying on hard currency,” she stated.

The survey also revealed mixed perceptions about cryptocurrency among Brazilians.

While 29% likened crypto investments to betting, 45% compared them directly to stocks.

Marcelo Sampaio, CEO of Hashdex, emphasised the need for greater education on crypto-related processes like staking to maximise its potential.

“This data reinforces the need to expand knowledge about this asset class so that more Brazilians can take advantage of its potential,” he said.

Brazil’s increasing crypto adoption aligns with broader trends in Latin America.

In 2024 alone, the region experienced a 116% surge in crypto users, driven by inflation concerns and innovative financial products like ETFs backed by digital assets.

Regulatory advancements have also bolstered confidence in cryptocurrencies as viable investment options.

As digital assets gain traction in Brazil’s financial ecosystem, experts stress the importance of balancing risk with diversification.

While bold investors allocate up to 35% of their portfolios to crypto, conservative investors maintain smaller stakes.