Report: 10% of Americans Used Crypto in 2025
BITmarkets Team
May 19, 2026
Approximately 10% of respondents said they had used crypto in some form, an increase compared with both 2023 and 2024. Despite the growth, crypto adoption remained below 2021 levels, when 12% of Americans reported using digital assets.
The data showed that around 9% of respondents primarily used crypto as an investment, while only 2% reported using it for payments and 1% for sending money to friends or family.
Payments remain limited despite crypto expansion
Expanding crypto payments has become a focus for several US financial technology companies. Block, founded by Jack Dorsey, has introduced Bitcoin and stablecoin payment options to more than 800,000 merchants across the US. Meanwhile, Lightspark, a Bitcoin Lightning Network startup established by former PayPal president David Marcus, is also aiming to increase mainstream adoption of Bitcoin payments.
Crypto usage was notably higher among unbanked individuals. Around 6% of unbanked adults reported using crypto for transactions, compared with only 2% among those with access to traditional banking services. Roughly 6% of Americans were classified as unbanked in 2025.
More than a quarter of respondents who used crypto for payments said merchants preferred receiving payments in digital assets, often citing advantages such as faster transactions, greater privacy, and lower costs. By contrast, fewer than 10% said businesses favored crypto because it was viewed as safer than banks or due to distrust in the traditional financial system.
New Federal Reserve leadership could shift crypto outlook
The Federal Reserve has historically maintained a cautious approach toward cryptocurrencies, particularly during the tenure of former Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ended Friday. Powell is set to be succeeded by Kevin Warsh following Senate approval on Wednesday.
Warsh, who previously served as a Federal Reserve governor between 2006 and 2011, has expressed more favorable views toward Bitcoin in the past, suggesting it could “provide market discipline” and comparing it to gold as an investment option for younger generations. He is generally viewed as having a more hawkish stance on monetary policy, emphasizing lower inflation, fiscal discipline, and reduced reliance on quantitative easing measures.
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