New Study: 28% of Americans Now Own Crypto

The way Americans view cryptocurrencies is rapidly changing. Not too long ago, people were very unfamiliar with crypto and many thought it was some type of scheme or something associated with criminal behavior. Today, knowledge of crypto is much more widespread and over a fourth of Americans have invested in cryptocurrencies. Although crypto has been around for a long time, it is still a growing technology, with its application and use cases continuously evolving. 

Ways to Use Cryptocurrency Today

While the world is still a long way from crypto being accepted as a common payment method, there are certain sectors where paying with crypto has already become widespread.

One example is the iGaming industry. There are already loads of online casinos where you can make deposits and withdrawals using cryptocurrency, which improves accessibility as anyone can play from anywhere without worrying about fiat conversations. These crypto online casinos also offer near-instant withdrawals and deposits by leveraging blockchain transactions.

Several other platforms and services, such as VPNs, allow customers to make payments in crypto. In addition, tech stores, gaming platforms, and even travel websites also support crypto payments.

The Most Popular Cryptocurrencies in 2025

According to a 2025 Cryptocurrency Adoption and Consumer Sentiment Report, the following are the top 5 cryptocurrencies that Americans own in 2025.

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Solana (SOL)
• U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC)

Bitcoin is at the very top again, which is to be expected. Ethereum has also long been a leading currency, so finding ETH in second place is not surprising. After that, Dogecoin, long endorsed by Elon Musk, shows up – and finally, we have Solana, a relatively new and quickly gaining currency with low fees and high-speed transactions.

The list of currencies that people who are open to buying crypto are considering investing in looks much the same, except that Ripple (XRP) is in fifth place instead of the U.S Dollar Coin.

How America’s View of Crypto Is Changing

Crypto had a lot of growth spurts in 2023 and 2024, which has increased Americans’ confidence in the validity and promise of the crypto sector. Since 2021 ended, cryptocurrency ownership has nearly doubled.

Another indicator of the positive change is that 14% of people familiar with crypto plan to invest this year. These days, 6 out of 10 adults who know about crypto believe the market’s value will rise in the next four years. 

But that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone feels sure that crypto is a stable investment forever. Forty percent of crypto owners do not trust that the tech is safe, and nearly a fifth have had struggles accessing or withdrawing their funds. However, of those that have bought crypto, most (69%) are profiting. It’s not a surprise, then, that 67% of people who already own crypto want to buy more.

Criticism and the Biggest Concerns

Despite the enormous growth seen in the sector, not everyone is in. Of the people who are familiar with crypto and don’t yet own it, 38% said they never will. The top reasons include the volatile market, exchange rates, computer glitches that could lead to owners losing access, fear of digital scams, and lack of regulation and consumer protection.

The biggest concerns of people who already own crypto are related to the security of their funds as they fear cyberattacks and a loss of access to their tokens. Interestingly, owners of crypto aren’t very concerned about the lack of regulation – for many, the decentralized nature is one of the big benefits of crypto.

Thoughts on the Future of Crypto

Bitcoin’s upward trend that started in 2023 reached its peak in 2024 with a new all-time high, even performing better than the S&P 500. Many think 2025 is going to be a new record year for the coins. Market experts are optimistic, and believe Bitcoin prices could reach $150,000 USD in 2025, while some have mentioned even higher numbers – some as high as $200,000 USD. 

Of course, the crypto market is notoriously unstable, and nothing is ever guaranteed. However, with the continuous growth of crypto, the chance that DeFi becomes more widespread and Bitcoin adoption as a global currency increases, is high.