A recent survey conducted by PayPal in collaboration with the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) shows that nearly four in ten U.S. merchants now accept cryptocurrency as a payment method at checkout, highlighting a notable shift toward mainstream commercial use of digital assets. The survey, which gathered insights from 619 payment strategy decision-makers across various industries in October 2025 revealed that 39% of merchants have implemented crypto payment options, a figure that reflects a significant increase in real-world utility for cryptocurrencies beyond speculative trading.

This emerging trend is largely driven by customer demand. According to the survey, 88% of merchants reported receiving inquiries from customers about paying with crypto, while 69% said customers expressed interest in using digital assets at least once a month. The hospitality, travel, digital goods, and gaming sectors showed particularly strong adoption rates, suggesting that industries with digitally native or mobile centric customers are leading the integration of crypto payment infrastructure.

PayPal’s vice president and general manager of crypto, May Zabaneh, emphasized that this adoption is moving beyond early experimentation. Merchants increasingly recognize the value of offering crypto options, citing benefits such as faster and more flexible payment processing, enhanced transaction security, and the potential to attract new customers. The survey further noted that among merchants already accepting crypto, these payments account for about 26% of total sales, indicating that once integrated, digital currency payments are being actively used.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. A large majority of surveyed merchants roughly 90% said they would consider accepting crypto if the setup process were as straightforward as traditional card payments. This points to usability and simplicity as key barriers to broader adoption. However, merchants are optimistic about the future, with 84% forecasting that crypto payments will become a common option within the next five years.

Demographic trends also play a significant role. Millennials and Generation Z shoppers appear to be the most enthusiastic about crypto payments, pushing merchants to explore these options to meet evolving consumer preferences. Larger enterprises have been quicker to adopt crypto payment systems with many of the biggest U.S. brands already supporting them while smaller and midsize businesses are gradually incorporating digital asset checkout capabilities.

Viewed in context, this survey underscores a broader evolution in payments infrastructure, where digital currencies are increasingly seen not just as investment assets, but as practical tools for everyday commerce. As payment platforms continue to refine crypto integration tools and streamline the merchant experience, the next few years could see digital asset payments become a standard feature of U.S. retail and online checkout systems.