Crypto advancing at the point of sale

Cryptocurrency payments are moving into the mainstream with nearly four in 10 (39 percent) of merchants now accepting cryptocurrencies at the point of sale, according to research just released by the nonprofit National Cryptocurrency Association and PayPal. What's more, nearly four out of five merchants (84 percent) believe crypto will become commonplace within the next five years.

The Harris Poll conducted the research on behalf of PayPal and NCA in October 2025, querying 619 payment strategy decision makers in various lines of commerce.

Customer interest is a major driver behind merchant adoption, PayPal said in a press release, with nearly nine in 10 merchants (88 percent) in the study reporting that customers inquire about paying with crypto. More than two thirds (69 percent) reported they have customers who want to pay with crypto at least once a month.

A significant majority of merchants surveyed (79 percent) agree that accepting crypto could help them attract new customers, highlighting its perceived value as both a method of payment and a growth lever. For merchants already accepting crypto, the demand is tangible, PayPal said.

"What we're seeing both in this data and in conversations with our customers is that crypto payments are moving beyond experimentation and into everyday commerce," said May Zabaneh, vice president and general manager of crypto at PayPal. "Adoption is being driven by customer demand for faster, more flexible ways to pay – and once businesses start accepting crypto, they see the real value."

Zabaneh added, "When crypto payments are offered in ways that feel as familiar as cards or online payments, they become a powerful growth tool, helping businesses reach new customers and access funds more quickly."

Merchants, younger shoppers lead the charge

The research indicates that crypto adoption is no longer limited to early adopters. Adoption is strongest among large enterprises, those with more than $500 million in annual sales, with 50 percent of these companies already accepting crypto payments. But 34 percent of participating small businesses also accept crypto, as do 32 percent of mid-sized companies.

Among crypto-accepting businesses, crypto represents better than a quarter (26 percent) of total sales. Seventy-two percent of crypto-accepting merchant respondents reported that their crypto sales increased over the past year, suggesting that once implemented, crypto payments are gaining traction with customers.

Advantages merchants said they gained from accepting cryptocurrencies include:

• Faster transaction speeds (cited by 45 percent)
• Access to and being able to attract new customers (45 percent)
• Enhanced security features (41 percent))
• Greater customer privacy (40 percent)

Researchers further found that younger customers appear to be leading the charge, PayPal stated. Merchants reported the greatest interest in paying with crypto comes from millennials (77 percent) and Gen Z or younger consumers (73 percent). Just 4 percent of baby boomers are paying with cryptocurrencies.

Small business report especially high inquiry rates from Gen Z (82 percent of these businesses) compared to mid-sized businesses (67 percent) and large companies (65 percent).

Merchant categories where crypto acceptance is high include:

• Hospitality and travel (81 percent)
• Digital goods, gaming, luxury and specialty retail (76 percent)
• Retail and ecommerce (69 percent)

Simplicity will rule the day

PayPal said it expects momentum to accelerate. Evidencing this, it found more than four in five merchant respondents (84 percent) believe crypto payments will be commonplace within the next five years. "Yet despite strong interest and clear demand, simplicity and usability remain key barriers," PayPal said.

A large majority of merchant participants (90 percent) said they would try accepting crypto if the experience matched the ease of traditional card payments. An equal percentage said they would likely accept crypto if the setup process was as simple as accepting credit cards.

"What the data makes clear is that interest in crypto isn't the problem; understanding is," said Stu Alderaty, NCA president. "Too many people still don't see how crypto fits into their everyday lives. That's why partnerships with trusted platforms like PayPal are so important."

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