39% of U.S. merchants accept crypto as adoption grows

Surveys show 39% of U.S. merchants accept crypto, driven by customer demand. Over 80% expect crypto payments to become standard within five years, with larger firms and younger generations leading the way.

Recent surveys indicate that 39% of U.S. merchants now accept cryptocurrency payments, signaling a major step toward mainstream adoption. These studies, conducted by the National Cryptocurrency Association, PayPal, and NS3.AI, surveyed over 600 payment decision-makers across industries such as retail, e-commerce, hospitality, luxury goods, and digital gaming. Customer demand is the main catalyst, with nearly 90% of merchants receiving inquiries about crypto payments and 69% noting monthly requests. Among those already accepting digital assets, crypto accounts for more than a quarter of their sales, and 72% have experienced transaction growth in the past year. Larger enterprises and younger generations—particularly Millennials and Gen Z—are at the forefront of this trend. Furthermore, 84–85% of decision-makers believe crypto payments will become standard within five years, highlighting the importance of ease of use for broader adoption.