[The Surprisingly Common 'Pretending to Know'] The Wall of Crypto Terminology Revealed by 1,314 Respondents
Clabo Inc. surveyed 1,314 people on their understanding of crypto terms. Results show that while over 55% have investment experience, only about 10% can actually explain terms like DeFi or NFT, highlighting a risky lack of financial literacy.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 16:47
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 10:24 (473h 36m after Collected)
Clabo Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Ikuma Ueno) conducted an actual condition survey on the "Basic Terminology Understanding of NFT, Staking, and DeFi" targeting 1,314 men and women nationwide.
As a result of the survey, DeFi (Decentralized Finance) topped the list of terms respondents felt they "understood the least" at 23.2%, followed by staking and NFTs.
While 55.9% of respondents have investment experience, the demographic that understands each term at a level where they can "explain it to others" remains at only about 10% for all terms, highlighting the alarming reality that investment decisions are being made without sufficient knowledge.
This report analyzes in detail the current state of information gathering dependent on YouTube and SNS, and the differences in understanding based on generation and years of investment experience, proposing the necessity of financial literacy education for the sound development of the entire market.
■ Survey Overview
Survey date: February 24, 2026
Survey method: Internet survey
Survey target: Men and women residing in Japan
Valid responses: 1,314 people
Conducting agency: Clabo Inc.
■ Survey Content
55.9% have investment experience. What is the status of term comprehension?
Among the survey respondents, 55.9% (735 people) have investment experience.
Of these, 38.4% (504 people) are currently investing, and 17.6% (231 people) invested in the past but are not currently doing so, revealing that a significant number of people have a point of contact with the crypto asset market.
On the other hand, there is also a considerable number of people with no investment experience (579 people, 44.1%).
The presence or absence of investment experience directly links to the frequency of opportunities to encounter new concepts and terms. Those with investment experience should have increased opportunities to recognize concepts like NFT, staking, and DeFi by being exposed to relatively more information.
However, what became clear from the results of this survey is the fact that even among those with investment experience, the level of understanding of these terms is insufficient. This suggests that there is not merely an issue with the volume of information exposure, but a qualitative problem with the complexity of the concepts and the content explaining them.
As a result of the survey, DeFi (Decentralized Finance) topped the list of terms respondents felt they "understood the least" at 23.2%, followed by staking and NFTs.
While 55.9% of respondents have investment experience, the demographic that understands each term at a level where they can "explain it to others" remains at only about 10% for all terms, highlighting the alarming reality that investment decisions are being made without sufficient knowledge.
This report analyzes in detail the current state of information gathering dependent on YouTube and SNS, and the differences in understanding based on generation and years of investment experience, proposing the necessity of financial literacy education for the sound development of the entire market.
■ Survey Overview
Survey date: February 24, 2026
Survey method: Internet survey
Survey target: Men and women residing in Japan
Valid responses: 1,314 people
Conducting agency: Clabo Inc.
■ Survey Content
55.9% have investment experience. What is the status of term comprehension?
Among the survey respondents, 55.9% (735 people) have investment experience.
Of these, 38.4% (504 people) are currently investing, and 17.6% (231 people) invested in the past but are not currently doing so, revealing that a significant number of people have a point of contact with the crypto asset market.
On the other hand, there is also a considerable number of people with no investment experience (579 people, 44.1%).
The presence or absence of investment experience directly links to the frequency of opportunities to encounter new concepts and terms. Those with investment experience should have increased opportunities to recognize concepts like NFT, staking, and DeFi by being exposed to relatively more information.
However, what became clear from the results of this survey is the fact that even among those with investment experience, the level of understanding of these terms is insufficient. This suggests that there is not merely an issue with the volume of information exposure, but a qualitative problem with the complexity of the concepts and the content explaining them.