Nearly 75% of Americans Support US-based Financial Technology

A new survey conducted by Ipsos for the DeFi Education Fund found that 72% of respondents consider political support for US-based financial technology development at least somewhat important, even as familiarity with cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance remains limited.

The findings are based on responses from 1,545 participants surveyed in September 2026, ahead of the US midterm elections. The results suggest that Americans are more receptive to policies encouraging domestic financial technology innovation than to initiatives specifically focused on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

Survey finds strong support for US financial technology development

According to the Ipsos poll, 35% of respondents considered it “very” or “extremely” important for political candidates to support policies that encourage the development of next-generation financial technology within the United States. Another 37% described such policies as “somewhat important,” bringing the combined share of respondents expressing support to 72%.

The survey specifically asked participants about the importance of “ensuring that those who are building the next generation of financial technology are encouraged to do so in the United States.” These findings indicate that domestic financial technology development resonates with a substantial portion of respondents, even when they have limited experience with digital assets.

However, the level of support declined considerably when the question focused specifically on blockchain, cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi). Only 13% of respondents considered it “very” or “extremely” important for political candidates to encourage growth in these sectors.

The difference suggests that financial technology policies may attract broader public interest when presented in terms of domestic innovation rather than cryptocurrency-specific development.

Cryptocurrency awareness and ownership remain limited

Despite growing political and industry attention surrounding digital assets, the survey found that most respondents had relatively little familiarity with cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Only 9% of participants reported being familiar with cryptocurrency, while just 5% indicated familiarity with stablecoins.

The findings also showed that 87% of respondents had not held any digital assets during the preceding 12 months. These figures highlight the gap between broader support for financial technology innovation and direct consumer engagement with cryptocurrency products.

Ipsos also examined changes in digital asset ownership and attitudes toward decentralized finance compared with the previous year. “Ownership of crypto and openness to DeFi are largely consistent with 2025, and interest looks consistent across party lines,” said Ipsos.

The results suggest that cryptocurrency adoption and attitudes toward decentralized finance have remained relatively stable, rather than experiencing significant changes over the past year. The consistency across political affiliations also indicates that interest in these technologies is not necessarily concentrated within a single political group.

Cryptocurrency policy hains attention ahead of US midterm elections

The survey was conducted approximately two months before American voters were scheduled to participate in the 2026 midterm elections, which will determine the composition of the next session of Congress. Cryptocurrency regulation and financial technology policy have become increasingly relevant topics in US political discussions, particularly as lawmakers consider legislation affecting digital asset businesses and decentralized financial services.

The findings suggest that while relatively few respondents prioritize cryptocurrency-specific policies, a much larger share considers support for domestic financial technology development important when evaluating political candidates. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency industry participants have continued investing in political campaigns to influence the direction of future legislation.

Political action committees supported by cryptocurrency companies have already spent tens of millions of dollars seeking to influence voters in competitive electoral races. These efforts reflect the industry's interest in shaping the regulatory environment for digital assets as Congress considers future financial technology legislation.

However, the Ipsos results indicate that cryptocurrency remains a relatively specialized concern among the broader public, despite the growing political attention surrounding the sector. The survey highlights a distinction between general enthusiasm for financial innovation and direct support for cryptocurrency-specific policies, a difference that could influence how financial technology issues are discussed during the election cycle.

Sources:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-voters-candidates-support-financial-technology-poll

https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/only-one-five-americans-say-us-financial-system-secure