Merchants, banks and investors push US crypto payments toward a 2026 tipping point

Beincrypto reports that signs are emerging across the United States that cryptocurrency is transitioning from a speculative asset to a legitimate payment method, driven by rising merchant adoption, major banks entering the Bitcoin business, and growing investment in payment infrastructure, with some predicting 2026 could mark a tipping point.

A PayPal and National Cryptocurrency Association survey released Jan. 27 found 39% of US merchants already accept crypto and 84% expect crypto payments to become commonplace within the next five years. The survey said 88% of merchants reported customer inquiries about paying with crypto, 69% said customers want to use crypto at least once a month, and interest is highest among Millennials (77%) and Gen Z (73%); small businesses reported Gen Z inquiry rates of 82% versus 67% for mid-size companies and 65% for large enterprises.

"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. The survey also found 90% of merchants would accept crypto if the setup process were as simple as accepting credit cards, and the NCA said understanding is the main barrier.