Nearly 40% of US Merchants Now Process Crypto Payments
Cryptocurrency is rapidly moving from an investment asset to a transactional currency, with nearly four in ten U.S. merchants now accepting it at checkout. A PayPal report published on January 27, 2026, detailed findings from a survey of 619 payment-strategy decision-makers conducted in October. The data reveals that customer interest is the primary catalyst, as nearly nine in ten merchants stated they have received inquiries about crypto payment options.
Adoption is being driven by customer demand for faster, more flexible ways to pay — and once businesses start accepting crypto, they see real value.
— May Zabaneh, PayPal Vice President and GM
Crypto Drives 26% of Sales for Adopting Merchants
The financial impact for early adopters is substantial. For businesses that already accept digital assets, these transactions constitute an average of 26% of total sales, proving that crypto payments are a significant revenue stream, not just a novelty. Adoption is strongest among large enterprises, but small and midsized businesses are not far behind, with 34% and 32% respectively enabling crypto checkouts. The trend is most pronounced in consumer-facing industries such as hospitality, travel, digital goods, and gaming, largely propelled by demand from Millennial and Gen Z shoppers.
90% of Merchants Await Simplified Crypto Integration
While adoption is growing, the path to mainstream integration hinges on usability. A striking 84% of merchants surveyed believe crypto payments will become common within the next five years. However, a crucial barrier remains: 90% of non-adopting merchants confirmed they would start accepting crypto if the process were as simple as traditional credit card payments. This highlights a significant market opportunity for payment providers like PayPal, which launched its own crypto checkout tool for U.S. merchants in July. As Stu Alderoty, President of the National Cryptocurrency Association, noted, the core issue is not a lack of interest, but a need for better understanding and simpler infrastructure.
