[Surprisingly Many Pretenders] The Wall of Crypto Asset Terminology: 1,314 People Surveyed

Clabo Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ikuma Ueno) conducted a survey on the "Understanding of Basic Terminology related to NFT, Staking, and DeFi" targeting 1,314 men and women nationwide.

The survey results showed that DeFi (Decentralized Finance) ranked first at 23.2% as the term people felt they "understood the least," followed by staking and NFT.

While 55.9% of respondents had investment experience, the proportion of those who understood each term well enough to "explain it to others" remained at only about 10% for all terms. This highlights a concerning reality where investment decisions are being made without sufficient knowledge.

This report thoroughly analyzes the current state of information gathering, which relies on YouTube and social media, as well as differences in understanding based on generation and years of investment experience, presenting the necessity of financial literacy education for the healthy development of the overall market.

■ Survey Overview

Survey Date: February 24, 2026

Survey Method: Internet survey

Target Audience: Men and women residing in Japan

Valid Responses: 1,314 people

Implementing Organization: Clabo Inc.

■ Survey Content

55.9% have investment experience. What is the status of terminology understanding?

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) have invested in the past but are not currently, clearly indicating that a considerable number of people have had contact with the crypto asset market.

On the other hand, a significant number of people (579 people, 44.1%) have no investment experience.

The presence or absence of investment experience directly correlates with the frequency of exposure to new concepts and terms. Investors with experience should encounter more information, thus increasing their opportunities to recognize concepts like NFT, staking, and DeFi.

However, what emerged from the results of this survey is the fact that even those with investment experience do not have a sufficient understanding of these terms. This suggests that it is not merely a matter of information exposure, but also a problem with the complexity of the concepts and the quality of content explaining them.

What is the understanding level of NFT (Non-Fungible Token)?

NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) have been particularly covered by the media in recent years, and their recognition is considered higher than the other two terms. Examples of their use in the digital art market and NFT sales by celebrities have also been reported, suggesting that a considerable number of people have "heard of" them. However, we investigated how far practical understanding has progressed.

As a result, the largest group, 25.6% (336 people), responded that they "understand roughly." This suggests that while NFTs are recognized as some kind of digital asset with a certain mechanism, their specific uses and positioning on the blockchain are likely understood only vaguely.

Furthermore, the fact that only 10.7% (141 people) can "explain it to others" clearly illustrates the shallow level of understanding.

What is the understanding level of Staking?

Staking is often understood as a mechanism for earning rewards by holding crypto assets.

Its implementation varies by protocol, with multiple mechanisms such as Proof of Stake (PoS) and its derivatives, but only a limited number of people are likely to understand these technical details.

In this survey, the understanding level of staking is considered to be as low as that of NFT.

The proportion of those who "understand roughly" is 24.3% (319 people), which is almost the same level as NFT, and only 9.7% (128 people) are capable of providing a more detailed explanation ("can explain to others"). As more exchanges and providers offer staking services, it is highly probable that users are utilizing these services without accurately understanding the concept.

This situation is concerning from a risk management perspective.

Ranking of Least Understood Terms

The survey also included a direct question: "Which term do you understand the least?"

As a result, DeFi overwhelmingly received responses indicating it was "least understood." The low recognition and difficulty of understanding DeFi will be discussed in detail in subsequent analyses.

Why is DeFi understanding the lowest?

Information Source Ranking

Investor Anxiety Ranking

Cross-Analysis of Term Understanding by Generation

Relationship between Years of Experience and Term Understanding

Why DeFi is the most difficult

Relationship between Term Understanding and Investment Behavior

What this survey revealed

Summary and Recommendations

Please refer to the full article for the detailed report, including the above content.

■ Disclaimer regarding crypto asset investment

This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any investment solicitation or advice. Crypto asset investments involve high risks, and investment decisions should be made at your own discretion. We do not provide any guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the content of this report. Final investment decisions should be made based on your own judgment, and professional advice should be sought as needed.

Furthermore, Clabo Inc. offers consultations regarding wallet recovery, security measures, preservation procedures, and crypto assets.

If you have any concerns related to crypto assets, please utilize our initial free consultation service.

While we can also consult on issues such as fraud, please also consider utilizing the following public/administrative consultation services.

■ Consultation services from experts and public institutions

Consultation with Clabo (first consultation free): https://www.clabo-inc.co.jp/contact

Police Consultation Hotline: #9110

Consumer Hotline: 188

Consultation Dial for Fraudulent Investments: 0570-050588

■ Regulations on citation and reproduction

Citation and reproduction of this survey data are free, provided that the following source (including links) is clearly stated.

If citation without a source link or data alteration is confirmed, we may request removal or correction (e.g., DMCA claim) based on copyright protection.

Survey conducted by: Clabo Inc.

Official Report: https://www.clabo-inc.co.jp/media/articles/nft-staking-defi-basic-term-understanding-survey

Press Release: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000011.000178703.html

Consultation with Clabo (first consultation free): https://www.clabo-inc.co.jp/contact

■ Company Overview

Clabo Inc.

Location: Ark Hills South Tower 16F, 1-4-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032

Representative Director: Ikuma Ueno

Established: July 2025

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/clabo_inc