Bitcoin Surpasses $100,000, Yet Morgan Stanley Intern Survey Shows Crypto Adoption Still Nascent
Bitcoin’s price has soared past $100,000 in 2026, but a recent survey from Morgan Stanley reveals that cryptocurrency adoption among upcoming finance professionals remains in its early stages.
Morgan Stanley surveyed more than 500 summer interns in North America and 147 in Europe between June and July. The survey found that only 18% currently own or use cryptocurrencies, a modest increase from 13% last year. Interest in digital assets has inched up to 26%, yet a majority of 55% still express little interest—though this is down from 63% in 2025.
This cautious stance contrasts with the accelerating institutional acceptance of crypto. Since January 2025, eleven spot Bitcoin ETFs have amassed $53.7 billion in assets, while Ether ETFs have attracted $12.4 billion, according to Farside Investors data. Corporations continue to add these digital currencies to their balance sheets, reflecting growing mainstream adoption.
Ether also recently reached a record high above $4,800, further boosting confidence in digital assets.
AI Adoption Soars Among Next Generation Finance Leaders
The survey also highlighted strong AI adoption, with 96% of U.S. interns and 91% of European interns reporting at least occasional use of AI tools. Nearly all agreed AI helps save time and is easy to use, though 88% acknowledged the technology still requires improvements in accuracy.
This trend aligns with Wall Street’s growing AI investments, with leading firms expected to spend $650 billion on AI capital expenditures and research this year.
Humanoids Spark Interest Amid Mixed Societal Views
Interest in humanoid robots is high, with over 60% of U.S. interns and nearly 70% of European interns expressing a desire to own humanoids. Both groups expect these robots to have practical applications and to replace many human jobs.
However, only 36% of U.S. interns and 24% of European interns believe humanoids will positively impact society, reflecting cautious optimism.
Morgan Stanley projects the humanoid market could exceed $5 trillion by 2050, with over one billion units in use—mostly in industrial and commercial settings.
