Gen Z warms to crypto for date payments

Crypto usually shows up in dating conversations as a joke, a red flag, or a flex. But sometimes it shows up in a more ordinary place: splitting a check.

A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. adults suggests the idea is no longer niche for younger people, even if the behavior is still rare. Only 5% of respondents said they have paid for a date using crypto. Among Gen Z, the share was 13%. For older groups, it dropped to near zero.

The gap seems less about enthusiasm and more about friction. Among Gen Z respondents who have not used crypto for a date, 37% said they don’t have a direct way to pay. Older respondents were more likely to say they simply wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it.

The same survey points to a broader theme that sits behind the payments question. Money skills are becoming part of what people screen for. Two-thirds of respondents said financial literacy makes someone more attractive as a partner. That view was strongest among Gen Z at 76%.

Digital finance knowledge also scored well. Between roughly half and a bit more than half of respondents said familiarity with tools like crypto and digital wallets can make someone more attractive. But “owning crypto” was a different story. Only 17% said holding digital assets boosts someone’s appeal, while most said it didn’t move the needle.

The results also hint at how platforms might try to package the trend. About half of men and more than a third of women said they would be curious about a dating app that matches users based on crypto interest or wallet compatibility.

Taken together, the picture is fairly clear. For younger adults, crypto reads less like a personality and more like another part of basic financial fluency. The missing piece is still practical: a smooth way to pay in everyday settings without turning a simple date into a tech demo.