A new report by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) paints a detailed picture of the crypto industry's growing economic footprint in the United States. The study, conducted by Pragmatic Policy Group (PPG), estimates that crypto companies directly employ 34,000 workers and support a total of 232,000 jobs when accounting for supplier industries and worker spending. The sector is projected to contribute more than $55 billion to U.S. GDP in 2026, with roughly $31 billion flowing to workers as income.
The analysis draws on Bureau of Economic Analysis input-output tables and industry revenue data from Statista, mapping crypto activity to existing sectors like securities and commodity contracts, credit intermediation, and data processing. PPG notes that crypto is not a standalone industry in federal databases, so the occupational allocation relies on modeling rather than a direct workforce survey. Direct crypto employment exceeds industries such as coffee and tea manufacturing (28,400), cement (15,300), and tobacco (10,600), based on Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.
Among the 232,000 total supported jobs, supplier industries account for 75,000 positions, while household spending by workers across all groups generates 123,000 jobs. The largest occupational categories across all supported roles are office and administrative support (29,260), business and financial operations (21,650), management (20,890), transportation (18,560), and food preparation (16,910). Within the 34,000 direct crypto roles, software, blockchain and data engineering dominate with 10,100 positions, followed by compliance, finance and business operations (5,450) and executives/managers (5,100).
Geographically, California leads with 57,649 supported jobs, followed by New York (53,766) and Texas (26,536). The report spotlights Denver's 131 blockchain firms and Colorado's acceptance of crypto for tax payments, as well as North Dakota's plans for a 700MW mining facility and a state-backed stablecoin. The estimated average annual wage across supported jobs stands at $133,000, though that figure includes all sectors, not just direct crypto employees.
NCA president and Ripple CLO Stu Alderoty emphasized that the industry has become an economic driver with a "real, positive impact on American jobs, wages, and economic growth." PPG chief economist Oliver Browne noted that each direct crypto job generates around six additional roles in the broader economy, positioning the sector for further expansion as adoption increases.
