A new survey released by PayPal and the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) reveals that 39% of U.S. merchants currently accept cryptocurrency payments at checkout. The study, conducted with Harris Poll, surveyed payment strategy decision-makers across retail, e-commerce, hospitality, travel, luxury, specialty, and digital goods industries.
Adoption is even higher among large enterprises, with 50% of companies generating over $500 million in annual revenue already accepting crypto. Small businesses follow at 34%, and midsize firms at 32%. The primary driver is clear customer demand, with 88% of merchants reporting they have received inquiries about crypto payments from customers.
The data indicates a significant shift in usage, moving digital assets beyond investment into functional, everyday commerce. For businesses that have adopted crypto, these payments account for an average of 26% of their total sales. Furthermore, 84% of surveyed merchants expect cryptocurrency to become a common payment method within the next five years.
Industry adoption varies, with hospitality and travel leading at 81% acceptance, followed by digital goods, gaming, luxury, and specialty retail at 76%. Retail and e-commerce see a 69% penetration rate. Merchants cite key advantages including faster transaction speeds (mentioned by 45%), customer acquisition, and enhanced security and privacy (over 40%).
Stuart Alderoty, Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, commented on the findings, stating, “Crypto payments are moving from curiosity to capability.” Despite the growth, a major hurdle remains ease of integration; 90% of merchants say they would be more likely to accept crypto if setup and checkout were as simple as credit card payments.
