The ICRI survey of 2,000 Aussies also found that 56.7% of the women surveyed said that they would enter the crypto market based on advice from family and friends.
A new survey shared with Cointelegraph has found that the proportion of Australian women who own crypto assets has doubled in the last year.
The 2021 Independent Reserve’s Cryptocurrency Index (IRCI) of 2000 Australians found that the number of women who currently or have previously invested in crypto rose from 10.3% in 2020 to 20% in 2021. The percentage of female Bitcoin owners also rose from 8.3% to 14.8% according to the survey.
Independent Reserve is an Australian-based cryptocurrency exchange that was founded in 2013, it has more than 200,000 users.
Karen Cohen, Deputy Chair for the Board of Blockchain Australia, said that more women have entered the crypto market this year as the asset class has continued to become a mainstream investment. Speaking to Cointelegraph, she said:
I think that it tells you that investing in crypto is less risky and is just one of many different ways you can invest. I think it’s sort of giving the signal that if a bank thinks it's okay, then you know it's a safer place to invest.
Cohen cited examples such as the CBA adding crypto trading options to its app in early November.
Co-founder of Independent Reserve Adrian Przelozny added that “over time, as cryptocurrency investments become more acceptable and mainstream, the perceived risk also reduces.”
He added: “I think that as that happens, you'll see more and more women enter the market.”
Research by Grayscale from 2019 showed that women tend to be more risk-averse investors, which is often attributed as a reason for the gender gap between female and male crypto investors.
The ICRI also found that women were more likely to listen to family and friends about crypto. 56.7% of the women surveyed said that they would enter the crypto market based on advice from family and friends, as opposed to 42.2% of the men surveyed.
Cohen said, “A lot of women are getting referrals from their friends and family, so they're getting a feeling a bit safer to get involved.”
On the other hand, 45.9% of men said they would consider entering the crypto market due to interest sparked by media coverage, compare to 41.8% of women surveyed.
Closing the gender gap
Cohen said that moving forward, she expects that total gender parity among crypto investors is still “a while away,” because it’s so entangled with gendered stereotypes and the way that women are brought up to understand risk and investment.
Przelozny agreed, saying that he couldn’t possibly speculate as to when the investment gap will close. He said: “As to when it becomes 50/50, I don't know. But I think it's definitely trending in the right direction.”
Cohen also said that as the Metaverse and blockchain gaming begins to dominate the crypto market, users can expect “the landscape to completely change again.”
“Is gaming more of a boy's club than crypto?” she asked, concluding that “nobody really knows.”
In last year’s IRCI report, Cohen urged decision-makers in the crypto industry to include women in events and panel discussions, saying “we are what we see”.
The IRCI is an annual cross-sectional survey of over 2,000 Australians conducted by PureProfile. Independent Reserve says its sample was reflective of the country’s gender, age, and geographic distribution.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks

Bitcoin and altcoins are hit by biggest crypto hack in history
Bitcoin holds steady above $95,000, while crypto market capitalization excluding BTC decreases to $1.18 trillion on Monday. Analysts note that institutional interest in Bitcoin is likely overestimated through inflow data since it includes nearly 56% of BTC tied to arbitrage strategies.

Bitcoin Price Forecast: BTC standoff continues
Bitcoin has been consolidating between $94,000 and $100,000 since early February. Amid this consolidation, investor sentiment remains indecisive, with US spot ETFs recording a $540 million net outflow last week, signaling institutional demand weakness.

Solana drops below $160, liquidating $26 million in leverage as negative funding rate weighs in
Solana price extends its decline and trades around $160 on Monday after falling over 11% last week. The recent correction in SOL has triggered a wave of over $26 million in liquidations in the last 24 hours and $110 million last week.

Dogecoin Price Forecast: DOGE bears remain strong despite Elon Musk’s endorsement
Dogecoin extends its decline, trading around $0.23 on Monday after falling 8.55% last week. Coinglass’ long-to-short ratio for DOGE reads below one, indicating more traders are betting for a correction while the technical outlook projects a pullback toward the $0.20 level.

Bitcoin: BTC demand and liquidity conditions remain weak
Bitcoin price has been consolidating between $94,000 and $100,000 since early February, hovering around $98,000 at the time of writing on Friday. Despite this consolidation, US Bitcoin spot ETFs data recorded a total net outflow of $489.60 million until Thursday, hinting signs of weakness among institutional investors.

The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.