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SAN JOSE, CA & MIAMI, FL - November 18, 2025 — As cryptocurrency continues to gain mainstream momentum, American shoppers are embracing it as a holiday gift, with 17% preferring it more than a gift card this holiday season, while 31% agree that it would be less likely to go unused. These findings are among the key takeaways from the “NCA PayPal Holiday Crypto Report” released today by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Americans understand and use crypto with confidence, and PayPal.

The survey, which polled over 2,000 adults aged 18 and over, also found that nearly one quarter of U.S. adults (24%) have given or are considering giving crypto as a gift this holiday season. Among current crypto holders, enthusiasm runs even higher for gifting: almost two-thirds (65%) have given, plan to give, or are considering gifting crypto this year, and half (50%) have received or expect to receive it themselves.

The primary reasons consumers would prefer to receive crypto instead of a gift card include:

• Potential for Growth: 58% say they see potential for crypto gifts to increase in value over time.
• Choice and Flexibility: 54% appreciate the greater flexibility crypto offers for spending or investing.
• No More Lost or Expired Gift Cards: 49% say it’s easier to store and manage digitally.
• New and Exciting Gift: 45% say it feels more exciting to receive.
• Faster to Send, Easier to Receive: 40% value the speed of sending or receiving crypto gifts.

“Crypto is a modern take on a classic holiday gift—it’s fast, secure, and can be used or saved with the opportunity to grow in value,” said Stuart Alderoty, President of the National Cryptocurrency Association. “But even as crypto continues to gain ground, education remains a key factor in unlocking broader adoption: although nearly one out of five (17%) say they would want to receive crypto as a gift over getting a gift card, twice as many say they still do not understand how crypto works (38%), and 36% aren’t knowledgeable about how to gift it. At the same time, half say they would consider giving crypto this holiday season if they had better education around it, which is what we’re working on at the NCA.”

The role of crypto for the holidays also extends beyond gifting, as 23% of consumers are likely to shop with it this holiday season—and nearly one in five (19%) plan to shop with crypto within the next year. Among holders, that number climbs to 62%.

“The holidays highlight the power of giving, and digital currencies are quickly becoming a preferred choice,” said May Zabaneh, Vice President and General Manager of Crypto at PayPal. “Crypto makes sending gifts, paying merchants, or managing cross-border transactions faster and easier than ever. At PayPal, our focus is on making these experiences simple, and accessible—empowering everyone to participate in the new era of payments.”

Overall, 83% of Americans have gifted money domestically, with 28% of them having done so internationally. Consumers cite reasons for trying new payment methods that mirror crypto’s advantages, such as lower fees (36%), faster processing (34%), and enhanced privacy (38%).

The survey also revealed that younger consumers are driving near-term momentum and mainstream adoption while older Americans remain cautious, creating distinct opportunities for targeted outreach.

Nearly one-quarter (22%) of adults between ages 18-54 plan to gift crypto in the next 12 months, with 30% of 18-54 year-olds planning to shop with crypto for goods and services. This group views crypto as exciting, with 41% saying they would feel excited to receive it as a gift (vs. 9% of those 55+). This is a complete paradigm shift from older consumers (55+) as only 3% plan to gift or shop with crypto, and nearly 6 in 10 say nothing would make them want to receive crypto, compared to just 25% of 18-54 year-olds.

However, the research suggests these barriers are not insurmountable. Education and clear security messaging could significantly expand adoption, particularly among the 30% of consumers who say they could be convinced to gift crypto with better information about benefits and safety measures.
 

About the National Cryptocurrency Association
The National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) is a 501(C)(4) organization dedicated to educating consumers about how to engage with crypto. Crypto is positively impacting the lives of millions of Americans but misinformation has held back those who stand to benefit. The NCA is here to help make sense of crypto by sharing the stories of real people and businesses using crypto, providing educational resources to navigate the hype and confusion, and offering guidance and support through partnerships and services. For more information, visit https://www.nca.org.

About PayPal
PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure. PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit https://www.paypal.com, https://about.pypl.com/ and https://investor.pypl.com/.

Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of the National Cryptocurrency Association from October 14–19, 2025, among 2,020 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.9 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

Media Contacts
National Cryptocurrency Association: media@nca.org
PayPal: press@paypal.com