Survey: Customer demand driving merchant acceptance of crypto payments
Cryptocurrency payments are starting to move into the mainstream of U.S. commerce.
Nearly four-in-10 (39%) merchants already accept cryptocurrency at checkout, and 84% believe crypto payments will become common within the next five years, according to a new survey from the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) and PayPal.
A strong majority (88%) of merchants surveyed report receiving customer inquiries about paying with crypto, and 69% say 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.
The industries leading in cryptocurrency acceptance include hospitality and travel (81%) and digital goods, gaming, luxury and specialty retail (76%). Luxury/specialty retail includes high-end brands, jewelry, collectibles and designer goods.
Retail is just behind, with 69% of merchants surveyed accepting cryptocurrency as payment. Retail includes apparel, online stores, electronics, toys, gift shops and e-commerce.
“What we’re seeing both in this data and in conversations with our customers is that crypto payments are moving beyond experimentation and into everyday commerce,” said May Zabaneh, VP and general manager of crypto at PayPal. “Adoption is being driven by customer demand for faster, more flexible ways to pay – and once businesses start accepting crypto, they see real value.”
According to the survey, merchants cite several advantages to accepting crypto. Faster transaction speed (45%) and access to and attraction of new customers (45%) lead the way, followed by enhanced security features (41%) and greater privacy for customers (40%).
Merchants reporting the greatest interest in paying with crypto is coming from millennials (77%) and Gen Z or younger (73%). Small businesses see especially high inquiry rates from Gen Z (82%) compared to mid-size (67%) and large (65%) companies.
[READ MORE: Survey: One-third of consumers spend more when using digital wallets]
A vast majority of merchants (90%) say they would try accepting crypto if the experience matched the ease of traditional card payments. The same percentage (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,” said Stu Alderoty, president of the NCA. “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. We’re working together to help close the knowledge gap and show how crypto can be simple, accessible, and easy for everyday businesses and consumers.”
The NCA/PayPal survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll from Oct. 21-27, 2025 among 619 payment strategy decision makers across various industries.
