Key Takeaways
Total U.S. crypto ownership now exceeds 67 million people, representing 1 in 4 adults.Future demand remains strong, with 90% of holders expecting to buy cryptocurrency within the next year.Consumer sentiment stayed favorable, with 77% reporting crypto positively affected their lives.
Crypto Holders Broaden Across Income, Age, and Work
One in four U.S. adults now owns cryptocurrency, representing more than 67 million people after 12 million Americans entered the market in one year. The 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report from the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) found ownership expanded across income levels, regions, industries, and generations, with everyday use rising alongside broader adoption.
Recent buyers changed the ownership profile. Women represented 42% of people who bought crypto in the past year, compared with 34% of earlier adopters. Adults ages 18 to 24 made up 18% of recent buyers, while people 55 and older accounted for 28%.
On May 20, the National Cryptocurrency Association shared on X:
“67 million Americans hold crypto. That’s 1 in 4 adults. Construction workers. Caregivers. Ranchers. Small business owners. Everyday Americans who are building financial independence. The Clarity Act would give them the clear rules to keep doing it.”
The Clarity Act would establish a federal framework for digital assets. The Senate Banking Committee advanced the bill 15-9 on May 14, sending it to the Senate floor and sharpening policy debates around oversight and consumer protections.
The report was based on an online survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the National Cryptocurrency Association. Researchers surveyed 10,000 U.S. adults who identified themselves as cryptocurrency holders between Feb. 12 and March 3, 2026. The findings were then weighted and extrapolated to estimate the broader U.S. crypto-owning population, leading to the report’s estimate that roughly one in four American adults, or about 67 million people, own cryptocurrency. The survey reported a margin of error of plus or minus 0.7 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
Everyday Use Cases Move Crypto Beyond Investing
Looking ahead, 90% of holders said they expect to buy cryptocurrency within the next year. Another 72% plan to spend it, while 65% intend to send it to friends and family. Active cryptocurrency usage among holders increased from 80% in 2025 to 87% in 2026. Transfers to friends and family reached 41%, while purchases of goods and services accounted for 40%. More than half of respondents planning to buy additional cryptocurrency said they expect to purchase up to $5,000 worth over the next year.
Industry data also showed crypto’s reach outside technology jobs. Tech still led at 18% of employed holders, while construction and manufacturing totaled 21%. More than half of holders earned under $150,000 in household income, and 23% earned below $75,000. Regionally, the South held the largest share at 38%. Confidence also strengthened. Sixty-nine percent of holders trusted crypto, while 65% trusted traditional banking. Three-quarters described crypto as proven and reliable.
Stuart Alderoty, chief legal officer at Ripple and president of NCA, tied the legislation to clearer protections and regulatory certainty for participants after the committee vote. On May 20, he shared on X:
“The Clarity Act isn’t about protecting an industry. It’s about protecting everyday Americans who deserve clear rules when they participate in the multi-trillion dollar crypto economy. 67 million Americans already hold crypto. The data is in. It’s time.”
Barriers remained measurable. Seventy-two percent of holders cited concern about scams and security. Yet 77% reported crypto had a positive impact on their lives, compared with 3% reporting a negative impact. Greater transparency ranked as the top trust-building factor at 49%, followed by real-world use cases and traditional finance integration at 42% each.
