TL;DR
- 39% of U.S. merchants now accept cryptocurrency as payment, with 84% believing it will be common within five years.
- Customer demand drives adoption: 88% of merchants report customer inquiries, and 79% see crypto as a tool to attract new customers.
- Large enterprises lead adoption (50%), citing faster transactions and access to new customers as key advantages.
Cryptocurrency payments advance rapidly toward mainstream U.S. commerce. Research from the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) and PayPal reveals that nearly 4 out of 10 merchants (39%) already accept cryptocurrencies at point of sale, while more than four in five (84%) believe that crypto payments will become common within five years.
Customer interest drives adoption among merchants. Nearly nine in ten merchants (88%) report receiving customer inquiries about paying with crypto, and more than two-thirds (69%) indicate customers want to use crypto at least once a month.
Four in five merchants (79%) agree that accepting crypto could help them attract new customers, highlighting its perceived value both as a payment method and growth lever. For merchants already accepting crypto, demand is tangible.
“What we’re seeing both in the data and in conversations with our customers is that crypto payments are moving beyond experimentation into everyday commerce,” stated May Zabaneh, Vice President and General Manager of Crypto at PayPal. “Adoption is being driven by customer demand for faster, more flexible ways to pay.“
Zabaneh added that once businesses start accepting crypto, they see real value. When crypto payments are offered in ways that feel as familiar as cards or online payments, they become a powerful growth tool.
Large Enterprises Lead While Small Businesses Evaluate Integration
The study shows that crypto adoption is no longer limited to early adopters. Adoption is strongest among large enterprises earning more than $500 million in annual revenue: 50% already accept crypto, compared to 34% of small businesses and 32% of midsize companies.
Among merchants accepting crypto today, the method represents more than a quarter (26%) of total sales, underscoring crypto’s growing role as a meaningful payment option rather than solely an investment tool. Approximately three-quarters (72%) of crypto-accepting merchants report that their crypto sales increased over the past year.
“At Win Win Coffee, our focus is always on meeting customers where they are and making it as easy as possible for them to engage with our brand,” stated Nikisha Bailey, co-founder of Win Win Coffee. “As payment options continue to evolve, it’s important that small businesses have the opportunity to explore new tools in a way that feels organic and accessible.“
Merchants cite several advantages of accepting crypto, led by faster transaction speed (45%), access to and attraction of new customers (45%), enhanced security features (41%), and greater privacy for customers (40%).
Younger shoppers lead the charge, with merchants reporting the greatest interest in paying with crypto comes from Millennials (77%) and Gen Z or younger (73%). Small businesses see especially high inquiry rates from Gen Z (82%) compared to midsize (67%) and large (65%) companies.
Certain industries lead adoption, including hospitality and travel (81%), digital goods, gaming, luxury, and specialty retail (76%), and retail and e-commerce (69%), where speed, global reach, and digital-native customers play an important role.
Momentum is expected to accelerate. More than four in five merchants (84%) believe crypto payments will become common within the next five years. Yet despite strong interest and clear demand, simplicity and usability remain key barriers.
A vast majority of merchants (90%) say they would try accepting crypto if the experience matched the ease of traditional card payments. A striking 90% of merchants say they would be likely to accept crypto if the setup process were as simple as accepting credit cards.
“What this data makes clear is that interest in crypto isn’t the problem; understanding is,” stated Stu Alderoty, President of the National Cryptocurrency Association. “Too many people still don’t see how crypto fits into their everyday lives. That’s why partnerships with trusted platforms like PayPal are so important.“
The NCA works to close the knowledge gap and show how crypto can be simple, accessible, and easy for everyday businesses and consumers. The organization is dedicated to educating consumers about how to engage with crypto safely.
