Gen Z Finance Professionals Embrace AI but Remain Cautious on Crypto Despite Bitcoin’s Rise Above $100,000

Digital Asset Adoption Still in Early Stages Despite Record Bitcoin Prices

In the world of finance, the phrase “we are still early” continues to echo through the cryptocurrency community in 2025, even as Bitcoin (BTC) surpasses the once-unimaginable milestone of $100,000. This sentiment, suggesting that digital asset adoption remains in its infancy, has found surprising validation in recent data from one of Wall Street’s most influential institutions.

Morgan Stanley’s comprehensive survey of the next generation of financial professionals reveals a striking reluctance toward cryptocurrency adoption, despite the sector’s remarkable growth. The investment banking powerhouse surveyed more than 500 summer interns across North America from June 10 to 27, and an additional 147 summer interns in Europe from June 26 to July 7, providing a revealing glimpse into the mindset of tomorrow’s financial leaders.

The results paint a nuanced picture of cryptocurrency’s penetration among young finance professionals. Only 18% of surveyed interns currently own or use cryptocurrencies, representing a modest increase from 13% in the previous year. While interest in digital assets has grown slightly to 26% from 23%, the majority—55%—still express indifference toward cryptocurrencies. This represents an improvement from last year’s 63% disinterest rate, but still indicates significant resistance among future financial decision-makers.

Institutional Adoption Contrasts with Personal Skepticism

The widespread hesitancy among finance interns appears particularly notable against the backdrop of significant institutional acceptance. Bitcoin has achieved remarkable legitimacy on Wall Street through the introduction of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with the 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs accumulating an impressive $53.7 billion in investor assets since their January 2024 launch, according to data from Farside Investors. Similarly, Ethereum ETFs have attracted $12.4 billion in inflows, demonstrating substantial institutional appetite.

Corporate adoption has accelerated dramatically, with both Bitcoin and Ethereum increasingly appearing on major company balance sheets. Bitcoin’s price trajectory has reflected this institutional embrace, shattering previous records to establish itself firmly above $100,000. Meanwhile, Ethereum reached a historic high exceeding $4,800 on Friday, further cementing the legitimacy of digital assets in traditional finance.

This apparent disconnect between institutional acceptance and personal adoption among future finance professionals suggests a lingering gap between cryptocurrency’s market performance and its penetration among individual investors. Despite the sector’s remarkable maturation, the survey indicates that digital assets still face significant barriers to widespread adoption, even among financially sophisticated young professionals.

Artificial Intelligence Finds Widespread Acceptance Among Finance Interns

While cryptocurrency adoption lags, artificial intelligence has achieved near-universal acceptance among the surveyed interns. An overwhelming 96% of U.S. respondents and 91% of European interns report using AI technology at least occasionally, indicating a dramatic difference in adoption curves between these two transformative technologies.

The consensus regarding AI’s utility is remarkably positive, with nearly all respondents agreeing that AI solutions “save me time” and are “easy to use.” However, this enthusiasm comes with important caveats—88% of interns maintain a nuanced perspective, acknowledging that the technology “needs accuracy improvement.” This sophisticated view suggests that tomorrow’s financial leaders are approaching AI with both enthusiasm and critical thinking.

This widespread AI adoption among finance interns mirrors broader trends on Wall Street, where the “Magnificent 7” technology firms are projected to invest a staggering $650 billion in capital expenditures and research and development this year alone. The seamless integration of AI into the workflow of young professionals indicates that artificial intelligence has crossed a critical threshold from experimental technology to essential tool, particularly in the finance sector.

Humanoid Robotics: The Next Trillion-Dollar Frontier Faces Mixed Reception

The survey also explored attitudes toward humanoid robotics, revealing significant interest coupled with profound societal concerns. More than 60% of U.S. interns and 69% of their European counterparts expressed interest in having humanoid robots in their homes, with respondents from both regions acknowledging the technology’s “viable use cases” and potential to replace human workers in numerous sectors.

Despite this personal interest, only 36% of American interns and a mere 24% of Europeans believe humanoids will ultimately have a positive impact on society. This stark contrast between personal adoption willingness and societal concern highlights the complex ethical considerations surrounding advanced robotics and automation.

Morgan Stanley’s own analysis projects extraordinary growth for the humanoid market, estimating it could exceed $5 trillion by 2050. This valuation encompasses not only direct sales but also the extensive supply chains and support networks required for repair and maintenance. “Although humanoids are still under development, there could be more than 1 billion by 2050, with 90% used for industrial and commercial purposes,” the investment bank stated in its May report, suggesting a transformative impact on global labor markets and economic structures.

Generational Shift in Technology Adoption Reveals Financial Industry’s Future Direction

The contrasting attitudes toward cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and humanoid robotics among finance interns offer profound insights into how the financial industry might evolve over the coming decades. While traditional financial institutions have increasingly embraced digital assets at the institutional level, the personal skepticism among future industry leaders suggests cryptocurrency adoption may continue to face headwinds despite impressive market performance.

Artificial intelligence, by contrast, appears to have achieved what cryptocurrency still struggles to attain: widespread personal adoption and integration into daily workflows. The near-universal embrace of AI tools by finance interns, despite acknowledged limitations, indicates that artificial intelligence has successfully transitioned from speculative technology to practical utility in the financial sector.

Humanoid robotics occupies a middle ground—generating significant personal interest while simultaneously raising profound societal concerns. The cautious optimism expressed by interns reflects broader societal tensions surrounding automation, job displacement, and the changing nature of work in an increasingly mechanized economy.

As these summer interns gradually assume leadership positions within the financial industry over the coming decades, their technological preferences and concerns will increasingly shape institutional priorities. The Morgan Stanley survey thus provides not merely a snapshot of current attitudes but a potential preview of the financial industry’s technological trajectory as Generation Z assumes greater influence in boardrooms and trading floors worldwide.

While Bitcoin may have finally achieved its long-predicted price milestone above $100,000, the journey toward widespread personal adoption—particularly among finance professionals—appears far from complete. As the crypto community maintains its refrain that “we are still early,” the survey data suggests they may indeed be correct, even as institutional adoption accelerates and market capitalization reaches unprecedented heights.