Reader forecasts, popular cryptocurrencies, and DeFi services: results of the annual ForkLog survey - ForkLog: cryptocurrencies, AI, singularity, future

# Predictions from readers, popular cryptocurrencies and DeFi services: results of the annual ForkLog survey

At the end of each year, ForkLog’s editorial team traditionally conducts a survey among the magazine’s readers. Over the years, participants have consistently predicted new Bitcoin price records and shared their experiences.

As promised, we share the results and tell about readers’ investment portfolios, attitudes towards mining, staking, and other industry segments.

Reader Profile

From November 3 to December 8, 2025, 448 people participated in the study. Most respondents are men aged 45 and older, living in Russia. Women among survey participants make up 9.4%.

16.3% of respondents live in Ukraine, 16.5% in Europe. ForkLog is also read in the South Caucasus, EAEU, and Southeast Asia.

Almost half (48.2%) of survey participants rated their income as average. The “above average” option was chosen by 21%, “low” — 24.3%.

14.1% of readers are involved in blockchain and cryptocurrency businesses, 13.6% plan to get involved. Nearly half of the surveyed audience (48%) are employees, 23.4% identified as entrepreneurs. The “unemployed” option was selected by 20.1% of respondents.

Most readers (27.5%) got acquainted with cryptocurrencies during the bullish market of 2017–2019, slightly fewer (23%) — during the bear market of 2014–2016.

Between 2023 and 2025, 8% of respondents learned about digital assets. Most (48.2%) rate their knowledge of cryptocurrencies as average. Only 6% consider themselves experts, and 15% are beginners.

As a primary news source, survey participants chose Russian-language media (38.2%). Second place goes to social networks (35.9%).

According to 31.9% of respondents, the price of Bitcoin will rise above $150 000 in 2026. 20.1% are confident that Bitcoin’s price will fall below $100 000.

## Reader Portfolio

29% of respondents first bought or received cryptocurrency in 2017–2019. Slightly fewer (23.9%) — in 2020–2022, 18.1% — in 2023–2025.

Among survey participants, 57.8% noted portfolio returns this year.

The most popular cryptocurrencies remain Bitcoin and Ethereum. Solana took third place. Compared to last year, the top three leaders have not changed.

What crypto assets do you own? (respondents could select multiple options) What crypto assets do you own? (respondents could select multiple options)

Mainly, ForkLog readers use digital assets for long-term investments, and 24.8% — for cross-border payments.

What are your purposes for using cryptocurrencies? (respondents could select multiple options) What are your purposes for using cryptocurrencies? (respondents could select multiple options) ## Anonymity

Most respondents do not use privacy-focused cryptocurrencies (81.3%) or mixers (97.3%) for transactions.

## Mining and Staking

Among participants, 6.7% are involved in cryptocurrency mining. The majority (69%) have never been miners.

42% participate in staking, 23.4% have done it before.

## NFT and Meme Coins

Less than a third (27.2%) of ForkLog readers own NFTs. Most (69%) do not have non-fungible tokens and do not plan to buy them.

Compared to last year’s survey, interest in meme coins has decreased: such assets are owned by 32.4% of respondents, and 63.6% said they do not own and do not plan to buy.

## DeFi

In 2025, 47.1% of respondents used DeFi platforms. Another 23% plan to do so in the future.

25.7% of survey participants who reported using DeFi tools chose DeFi tokens. Only 7.1% participate in protocol governance with tokens, and 22.8% add liquidity to AMM pools.

How exactly did you invest in DeFi? (respondents could select multiple options) How exactly did you invest in DeFi? (respondents could select multiple options)

As in previous years, the most popular service among magazine readers was Uniswap (32.1%). Followed by Aave (20.1%) and PancakeSwap (18.1%).

Which DeFi service do you use? (respondents could select multiple options) Which DeFi service do you use? (respondents could select multiple options) ## Trading

29.2% of respondents trade cryptocurrencies and consider it profitable. For 20.3%, it is not.

Centralized exchanges are chosen by 34.4%, with 14.5% using a mix of platform types.

The leader among centralized exchanges among respondents remains Bybit (36.8%). Second and third places are Binance (32.4%) and OKX (14.3%) respectively.

On which centralized exchanges do you trade? (respondents could select multiple options) On which centralized exchanges do you trade? (respondents could select multiple options)

The vast majority of survey participants (75.2%) do not trade cryptocurrency derivatives, and another 18.5% prefer futures.

27% of respondents use leverage.

## Wallets

The most popular wallets remain MetaMask (44.9%) and Trust Wallet (37.7%).

Which wallet do you use? (you can select multiple options) Which wallet do you use? (you can select multiple options)

A significant part of survey participants (62.1%) do not use hardware wallets. Those who prefer cold storage mainly choose Ledger (22.5%).

Which hardware wallets do you use? (you can select multiple options) Which hardware wallets do you use? (you can select multiple options)

## Hacker Attacks

Only 7.6% of respondents have been affected by incidents related to hacker attacks.

Thank you for participating and Happy New Year!🎄