Large corporations are emerging as the main force behind cryptocurrency payment adoption in the United States, according to a new joint survey released on January 27, 2026, by PayPal and the National Cryptocurrency Association(NCA).
The study, conducted among roughly 620 payment strategy decision-makers in late October 2025, shows that 39% of U.S. merchants now accept digital assets at checkout, marking a steady shift from experimentation toward operational use.
Large companies outpace smaller merchants
Adoption rates vary sharply by business size. Enterprises with annual revenues above $500 million are leading the transition, with around 50% already supporting crypto payments. By comparison, 34% of small businesses and 32% of midsize firms currently accept digital assets, highlighting a gap driven by resources, infrastructure, and compliance capacity.
The findings suggest that larger firms are better positioned to absorb integration costs, manage regulatory requirements, and respond to evolving consumer preferences, while smaller merchants remain more cautious despite growing interest.
Consumer demand is already visible
Merchants across all categories report strong customer curiosity. Nearly 88% said they have received questions about paying with crypto, and 69% noted that such requests come at least once per month. This steady level of inquiry indicates that digital assets are no longer viewed as niche, even if adoption is uneven.
Among businesses already accepting crypto, the commercial impact appears positive. Roughly 75% reported an increase in sales over the past year, suggesting that crypto payments may be expanding addressable customer bases or improving conversion rates in certain segments.
Looking ahead, sentiment is broadly optimistic. 84% of respondents expect cryptocurrency payments to become a standard option within the next five years, provided usability continues to improve.
Ease of use remains the main barrier
Despite rising interest, friction remains a key obstacle. Ninety percent of surveyed merchants said they would be likely to adopt crypto payments if the setup and user experience matched the simplicity of traditional card processing. This points to onboarding complexity, integration costs, and operational uncertainty as the main constraints, rather than ideological resistance.
Industry leaders and regulatory tailwinds
Adoption is most advanced in sectors with international exposure or digital-first business models. Hospitality and travellead with an 81% acceptance rate, followed by digital goods, gaming, and luxury retail at 76%, and retail and e-commerce at 69%.
The acceleration has coincided with regulatory clarity introduced by the GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025, which established a federal framework for stablecoins and fiat-pegged tokens. By reducing legal uncertainty, the legislation appears to have lowered the threshold for large firms to deploy crypto payment rails at scale.
Overall, the survey points to a clear trend: while small merchants remain cautious, large enterprises are already integrating crypto into mainstream payment flows, signaling that digital assets are moving closer to everyday commercial use in the U.S. economy.
