The phrase “we are still early” remains a guiding mantra in the crypto community in 2025, even as Bitcoin (BTC) has smashed through the $100,000 milestone and secured a foothold on Wall Street through the rise of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

A new survey from Morgan Stanley underscores this paradox: despite soaring prices and institutional adoption, young financial professionals remain hesitant to embrace digital assets.

Morgan Stanley Survey Results Show Lukewarm Crypto Engagement

Morgan Stanley’s latest summer intern survey, conducted from June 10 to July 7 across North America and Europe, highlighted both progress and persistent skepticism. Out of more than 650 interns surveyed, only 18% reported owning or using cryptocurrencies, up from 13% last year. Interest has also ticked upward, with 26% indicating curiosity about digital assets compared to 23% in 2024.

Morgan Stanley intern survey explainer video (Source: Morgan Stanley)

However, a majority — 55% — remain disinterested in crypto altogether. While that figure is down from 63% last year, it reveals that most future finance professionals are still hesitant to engage with digital assets despite their increasing mainstream presence.

This skepticism stands in contrast to market momentum. Since their debut in January 2024, the 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted $53.7 billion in investor wealth, while Ether ETFs have recorded inflows of $12.4 billion, according to Farside Investors. At the same time, corporations are accelerating their push into digital assets, adding both BTC and ETH to balance sheets.

BTC’s surge past $100,000 and Ether’s climb to a record high above $4,800 have only strengthened institutional appetite — but retail sentiment among young financiers lags behind.

AI Outpaces Crypto in Enthusiasm

While crypto adoption remains limited, Morgan Stanley’s survey reveals overwhelming enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. 96% of U.S. interns and 91% of European interns reported using AI tools, with the majority praising their time-saving capabilities and ease of use. Still, 88% voiced concerns about accuracy, echoing broader debates across Wall Street as the financial sector experiments with AI integration.

This alignment with the broader market is notable. The so-called “Magnificent 7” tech giants are projected to spend $650 billion on capital expenditures and R&D in 2025, much of it directed toward AI development.

The Next Frontier: Humanoids

The survey also shed light on a futuristic frontier: humanoid robotics. Over 60% of U.S. interns and 69% of European interns said they were interested in owning humanoids at home, pointing to expectations that robots will have “viable use cases” and replace many human jobs.

Still, optimism is limited. Just 36% of U.S. respondents and 24% of Europeans believe humanoids will have a positive societal impact.

Morgan Stanley forecasts that the humanoid market could surpass $5 trillion by 2050, driven by sales, repair, and support infrastructure. By then, the bank estimates that over 1 billion humanoids could exist, with 90% dedicated to industrial and commercial tasks.

Early Days for Crypto, but Not for AI

The findings illustrate a striking divergence: crypto adoption among tomorrow’s financiers remains tentative, while AI already commands near-universal usage and intrigue.

For the digital asset community, the results reinforce the enduring mantra that despite record-breaking prices and institutional adoption, crypto is still in its infancy. For Wall Street, however, the survey highlights that the future may be written less in blockchain code and more in lines of artificial intelligence.