Crypto Ownership in America Surges to 21% with Diverse Adoption

Crypto ownership in America is evolving, with a broader demographic embracing digital assets for practical, everyday use. The National Crypto Alliance’s (NCA) “2025 State of Crypto” report, released in May 2025, reveals that the stereotypical image of a crypto owner—a tech-savvy young man or a Wall Street financier—is no longer accurate. Instead, the face of crypto in America includes a diverse range of individuals, from construction workers to artists and grandparents, totaling 55 million everyday Americans.

The report, based on a survey of 10,000 crypto owners out of 54,000 surveyed adults, highlights a surprisingly broad adoption of crypto across various demographics. This challenges the notion that crypto ownership is limited to the blockchain elite. The data shows that one in five American adults, or 21%, now owns some form of cryptocurrency, indicating a significant shift in the industry’s narrative and implications for policymakers.

According to Ali Tager, executive director of the NCA, most crypto adoption stories are about practical, often transformative uses rather than get-rich-quick schemes. The data-driven portrait challenges stereotypes and reframes the crypto debate around financial inclusion, practical adoption, and the demand for smarter regulation. Many Americans are already integrating digital assets into their daily lives, with 39% of crypto investors using crypto to pay for goods and services, and 31% 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. Tager emphasized that crypto is no longer just a novelty but a better way to do everyday tasks like shopping, paying bills, or sending money to loved ones.

The NCA’s report underscores 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, defying the narrative that crypto is purely a young person’s game. The report emphasizes the potential for crypto to level the financial playing field, with 45% of crypto holders seeing digital assets as a force for financial inclusion and poverty reduction, and 38% citing their role in fostering technological innovation and sustainable economic practices.

Despite the broad democratization of crypto, the report reveals a fundamental tension. 75% of crypto holders worry about scams and security, but only 3% report having personally experienced fraud. This disparity can be attributed to the fact that most crypto owners do not transact with risky avenues, and 70% of holders have less than $10,000 in crypto. Meanwhile, 81% of crypto owners want to learn more about digital assets, indicating a thirst for knowledge and trusted information.

As crypto spreads, Americans are calling for smarter, clearer rules of the road. The NCA report reveals that 64% of crypto holders support government regulation, and 73% believe it is critical for the United States to become a global leader in crypto. However, 67% fear that heavy-handed regulations could stifle the innovation that makes crypto so transformative. Tager argues that regulation, if done right, can legitimize crypto and protect consumers, creating clarity and trust without strangling the promise of open financial systems.

This sentiment is echoed in the actions of the US government, with pro-crypto policies and bills being proposed in Congress. The potential for greater acceptance by the customer base in America is significant, as the domestic growth of the industry points to a favorable future for the crypto industry. This development demands a broader rethink of crypto’s social mission, highlighting its potential to democratize access to financial tools in overlooked communities.