Crypto is getting more normal, from the number of people who use it to the type of people who use it

While Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto news have concentrated on politics and institutions as of late, showing governmental policy becoming more accepting

A new report has revealed that crypto is becoming more mainstream, both in terms of the number of people who use it and the type of people who use it.

According to the National Crypto Alliance’s (NCA) “2025 State of Crypto” report, which is based on a Harris Poll survey of 10,000 crypto owners from 54,000 surveyed adults, crypto is now used by 55 million Americans.

The report, which was presented at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas, found that crypto is being integrated into the daily lives of a broad cross-section of Americans, spanning different age groups, genders, income levels and professional domains.

“Crypto is for everyone,” said Ali Tager, executive director of the NCA, in an interview with Cointelegraph.

The data showed that one in five American adults, or 21%, now own at least some form of cryptocurrency. The implications for both the industry’s narrative and for policymakers are profound.

Most crypto adoption stories do not involve Lamborghinis and get-rich-quick schemes but are often about practical, often transformative uses, according to Tager. This data-driven portrait challenges stereotypes and reframes the crypto debate around financial inclusion, practical adoption and a demand for smarter regulation.

Many of America’s crypto holders are already integrating digital assets into their daily lives. Some 39% of crypto investors in the survey have used crypto to pay for goods and services. Of these crypto shoppers, 96% used it at least once per year, with 22% doing so weekly. And 31% reported sending crypto to family as an alternative to traditional remittance channels.

The most common motivation for entering crypto is investment, cited by 60% as their first driver. However, curiosity about blockchain itself (50%) and practical uses like online shopping (27%) also ranked high.

“Crypto is no longer just a novelty,” said Tager. “For many, it’s a better way to do what they’re already doing, whether that’s shopping, paying bills or sending money to loved ones.”

NCA report mostly lines up with previous industry analysis

The National Crypto Alliance’s report focused on the state of crypto in 2025. Source: NCA

Previous reports from Chainalysis, Messari and a16zcrypto support much of the NCA’s findings in its report, at least directionally. All reports agree that adoption is growing, but determining the exact statistical makeup is always a challenge.

The NCA’s 55 million owners, based on a Harris Poll of 54,000 adults, seems robust, but Harris’s online panels may overstate adoption, especially when a 2025 Messari report pegs global active users at 30 million-60 million, hinting at speculative inflation.

The NCA’s diverse owners, per Harris’s data, include a data set showing 31% of women own crypto. However, if the online survey were used, it could skew results toward tech-savvy groups, clashing with a late 2024 Chainalysis report showing 70% of US activity from elite transfers.

This is neither to suggest that adoption by women or non-elites is not growing nor to downplay the effort of polling 10,000 crypto holders across the US to get a better statistical base for analysis. It is only to suggest that repeatable surveys should be produced in order to solidify confidence in the findings of the NCA report.

Crypto adoption sees a demographic shift

The NCA’s report highlights that crypto ownership is far more diverse than often depicted. While 67% of holders are men, 31% are women, and nearly 17 million American women are engaged with digital assets. Age-wise, 67% of crypto owners are under 45, but almost 9 million are over 55, contrasting with the notion that crypto is purely a young person’s domain.

“We heard from a cattle rancher in Kansas using blockchain to track beef provenance, a single mother in Texas learning to trade crypto to gain financial freedom. These are the stories that matter,” said Tager. “They’re not chasing Lamborghinis; they’re using crypto for real, often life-changing reasons.”

The report also highlighted that 45% of crypto holders saw digital assets as a force for financial inclusion and poverty reduction, whereas 38% cited their role in fostering technological innovation and sustainable economic practices.

Crypto concerns and challenges

However, even as these numbers suggest a broad democratization of crypto, the report’s data also reveals a fundamental tension. 75% of crypto holders worry about scams and security, yet only 3% report having personally experienced fraud.

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