A BearingPoint study released July 30 puts the adoption gap in precise terms: 23% of Swiss adults use cryptocurrency at least occasionally, more than double the 11% rate in Germany, with Austria sitting in the middle at 18%.
The YouGov survey polled 4,035 adults across the DACH region between June 18 and June 29, weighting the sample by age, gender, and region. The differences extend beyond ownership. In Switzerland, 37% of respondents view cryptocurrency as a worthwhile investment, compared with 28% in Austria and 23% in Germany. Swiss respondents are also more willing to see digital assets eventually serving as international trade or reserve currencies — 45% versus 36% in Austria and 32% in Germany.
Openness toward government-issued digital money follows the same pattern. Forty-four percent of Swiss respondents said they would consider using a central bank digital currency such as a digital franc in everyday life, compared with 38% in Austria and 29% in Germany.
Dr. Robert Bosch, BearingPoint's global head of Financial Services, framed the divide bluntly: "Germany discusses risks, while the neighbors already use and invest more." The consultancy's data also show that trust in state-issued money remains high across all three countries — 80% in Switzerland, 87% in Austria, and 84% in Germany rate it a good or very good payment instrument. Gold retains its status as the preferred inflation hedge, trusted by 64% in Switzerland, 66% in Austria, and 51% in Germany.