Almost 40% of US Merchants Now Accept Crypto—Is Mainstream Adoption Next?

Updated

January 31, 2026

Gambar Almost 40% of US Merchants Now Accept Crypto—Is Mainstream Adoption Next?

Jakarta, Pintu News – Nearly 40% of merchants in the United States now accept crypto and cryptocurrency as payment methods at the checkout stage. This fact is revealed by PayPal’s latest survey which shows the increasing consumer interest in digital assets as a means of payment.

This change marks an important shift from mere experimentation towards using crypto in everyday transactions. For businesses, this trend is a strong indicator of the new direction of the global payment system.

Crypto adoption driven by consumer demand

PayPal’s October survey involved 619 payment strategy decision-makers from a variety of industry sectors. The results showed that nearly nine in ten merchants have received customer inquiries regarding cryptocurrency payments.

The high frequency of such inquiries reflects the growing consumer awareness and interest in crypto. This puts merchants in a position to customize their payment methods.

PayPal thinks crypto adoption is now entering a phase of real use in commercial activities. Consumer demand for faster and more flexible payments is the main driver. Merchants who have adopted crypto are said to be starting to see direct benefits in operations and customer experience. This strengthens cryptocurrency’s position as a payment instrument, not just an investment asset.

PayPal’s Role and Infrastructure Challenges

In July, PayPal launched a crypto checkout feature that allows US merchants to accept payments from more than 100 types of cryptocurrencies. This move aims to lower the technical barriers that have been limiting crypto adoption.

With an integrated system, merchants can accept payments without the need to build complex new infrastructure. This initiative is an important catalyst for accelerated adoption.

However, challenges are still significant, especially regarding system complexity. About 90% of merchants stated that they would be willing to try crypto if the process was as easy as credit card payments. This suggests that the main issue is not interest, but rather ease of use and understanding of the technology. Simplifying the infrastructure is crucial to encourage wider adoption.

The Young Generation and the Financial Impact of Merchants

Crypto adoption is strongest among large enterprises, although medium and small businesses are starting to catch up. About 32% of medium-sized businesses and 34% of small businesses in the US have accepted cryptocurrency payments. The hospitality and travel, digital goods, and gaming sectors are listed as the industries with the highest adoption rates. The close-to-technology nature of these industries accelerates crypto acceptance.

Millennials and Gen Z are the main drivers of this trend through their preference for digital assets such as Bitcoin , Ethereum , and Ripple . Interestingly, merchants who have accepted crypto report that this method accounts for about 26% of total sales. The figure suggests that consumers are actually using crypto when the option is available. These findings strengthen the prospects of crypto as a relevant source of revenue.

Conclusion

PayPal’s data confirms that crypto and cryptocurrencies are moving closer to mainstream payment status. The drive of consumers, especially the younger generation, as well as infrastructure support from major players is accelerating this transition. While technical and educational challenges remain, the direction of development is clear. In the next five years, crypto has the potential to become an integral part of the global payment system.

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