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Got a Gen Z on your holiday shopping list?
Gen Z, born generally between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, are currently in their teens to late 20s. As "digital natives," they readily embrace the technology that older generations may find puzzling. This year, crypto is on their holiday wish list.
Here's what a gift of crypto might look like and how to make that happen.
"From AI-powered gift discovery to cryptocurrency as a legitimate gift option, we're seeing Gen Z and younger millennials lead a fundamental reimagining of commerce," said Bruce Cundiff, vice president of consumer insights at Visa.
The report found more than 1 in 4 shoppers (28%) would be excited to receive cryptocurrency as a gift. However, for Gen Z, the "excited to receive crypto" tally soared to 45%.
The survey also found Gen Z blazing the path in other consumer blocked-
They are 44% more likely than other age groups to use crypto to pay for purchases.
More than half (55%) said they would purchase from social media platforms.
They are more likely (71%) to use biometric authentication such as fingerprints or face scans.
And 60% are more likely to purchase gifts from overseas. We're betting that includes Shein and Rakuten.
But what if Gen Z's stocking is filled with cryptocurrency? What should they do with it?
Read more: What is bitcoin, and how does it work?
So if you've received a bit of bitcoin (it's doubtful someone would buy you a "whole" bitcoin costing something around $90,000 — but who knows?) or other crypto, what do you do with it?
Remember, crypto is digital, so you won't receive a physical coin. What you will unwrap depends on how the digital currency was delivered. It could be:
From a crypto exchange or broker: In that case, you will receive a statement and instructions. Your bitcoin could be held by the broker or exchange, or in one of these "wallets."
In a hot wallet: You get online access, but the code to unlock your crypto, called a private key, should be stored in a secure location, such as a safe deposit box.
In a cold wallet: You'll get a piece of hardware (or even a piece of paper) that has no internet connection. There is no backup, so if you lose your cold wallet, you lose your crypto.
A gift of crypto could also come from:
A bitcoin ATM: You may have seen these; they look like typical cash ATMs. You'll have a receipt and instructions.
A crypto exchange-traded fund: You'll probably be looking at a paper statement from an investment firm.
Crypto gift cards were available a few years ago, but have been widely discontinued. However, Coinbase says that it will still honor any previously issued gift cards.
Read more: Can you buy crypto with a credit card? See the pros and cons.
Once you have your crypto, you'll want to decide:
If you want to buy more. When you get crypto as a gift, it's someone else's money that's in play. If you purchase more cryptocurrency, you'll want to be sure you're prepared for the crypto volatility.
Spend it. That will require finding an online or brick-and-mortar merchant that accepts crypto payments.
Hold it for the long term. Watch that crypto grow. Or not.
Sell it for fiat currency (old-style cash). How you accomplish this will depend on how your crypto is being stored.
Considering all the options above for how someone might receive a crypto gift, that's also how you would buy and gift crypto.
The easiest way to buy crypto as a gift is to use an exchange or one of the crypto-friendly trading platforms. Some of the most popular are Robinhood, Kraken, and Crypto.com.
For example, Kraken offers an app that enables you to buy and send cryptocurrencies.
"Essentially, think Venmo, but with 400 different currencies and 400 different crypto assets," Alex Cassells, communications manager at Kraken, told Yahoo Finance. Cassells says the app will let you purchase crypto, such as bitcoin, and send it to a recipient as a pay link.
"You can send it as a text message, and then all they would have to do is click through, verify their account, and then the money [crypto] would be in their account. If they don't do that, the money doesn't leave your account, so it just stays in yours," he added.
Read more: How to navigate a crypto meltdown: 'Be willing to hold on'
