Cryptocurrencies and blockchain have become a global phenomenon, transforming people's relationships with technology and offering innovative tools for businesses and individuals to strive in a digital age. However, little is still known about the main drivers of cryptocurrency ownership, especially in emerging markets. Based on a representative online survey among 573 Brazilian digital platform investors, we find that crypto investors tend to be young, male, more tolerant to risk, less optimistic in their economic views, and consider themselves as ‘better’ investors compared to non-crypto online traders. While crypto and non-crypto investors have similar edu-cational backgrounds, our results show that cryptocurrency literacy positively and strongly relates to cryptocurrency ownership and intentions to invest in cryptocurrency. A gender gap among cryptocurrency investors has been confirmed. The findings further suggest that sophisticated in-vestors are more likely to hedge pessimistic economic expectations using cryptocurrency than their unsophisticated peers. We also find significant heterogeneity among cryptocurrency investors (e.g., early x late adopters) on attitudes and beliefs. The insights into digital investors' intentions to invest in cryptocurrency can be valuable for policymakers in designing strategies for the broader adoption of digital assets in the era of a decentralized economy, considering the planned adoption of CBDC in Brazil. •We conduct a comprehensive online survey among 573 Brazilian digital platform investors.•Crypto investors tend to be young, male, and more risk tolerant compared to non-crypto traders.•Crypto investor consider themselves ‘better’ investors compared to non-crypto traders.•A gender gap among cryptocurrency investors has been confirmed.•Cryptocurrency literacy positively relates to cryptocurrency ownership and intentions to invest in cryptocurrency.•Sophisticated investors are more likely to hedge pessimistic economic expectations using cryptocurrency.