Paying with cryptocurrencies is no longer just the domain of tech enthusiasts. According to the latest survey by PayPal, almost four in ten US merchants now allow customers to pay with cryptocurrency directly at the checkout. And the trend is growing, thanks in particular to younger generations and growing demand for faster and more flexible payment methods.
The survey, published by PayPal on Tuesday, is based on data from the National Cryptocurrency Association. In October, 619 managers responsible for payment strategy across various industries took part in the survey. Nearly nine out of ten merchants said their customers had already asked them about the possibility of paying with cryptocurrencies.
“What we see in the data and in conversations with clients is clear: cryptocurrency payments are moving from the experimental phase to everyday commerce,” says PayPal Vice President May Zabaneh. “Adoption is being driven by customer demand for faster and more flexible payments—and once businesses adopt cryptocurrencies, they begin to see their real value.”
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Hotels, travel, and gaming are growing the fastest
The strongest adoption so far has been in hospitality and tourism, digital content, and the gaming industry. This is where the speed of transactions and global reach of cryptocurrencies make the most sense.
Younger customers also play a key role. Millennials and Generation Z are proving to be the most “crypto-literate” shoppers, and they are the ones pushing merchants to change. Where the option to pay with crypto is available, people are actually using it – at merchants that accept cryptocurrencies, these payments already account for an average of 26% of all sales.
The distribution by company size is also interesting. Large companies are the fastest to adopt cryptocurrencies, but smaller players are not far behind – 32% of medium-sized companies and 34% of small businesses now accept crypto payments. Well-known brands in the US that accept cryptocurrencies include Starbucks, Walmart, and Home Depot.
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Most merchants believe in mainstream adoption within five years
A total of 84% of merchants surveyed believe that cryptocurrency payments will become mainstream within the next five years. According to crypto advocates, digital assets can play a significant role, especially where speed of payment settlement or lower costs for cross-border transactions are important.
However, the reality is still uneven. Complex infrastructure and uncertainties surrounding the functioning of the entire ecosystem remain obstacles. PayPal points out that 90% of merchants would start accepting cryptocurrencies if it were as easy as working with a credit card.
“This data clearly shows that the problem is not interest in crypto, but understanding,” summarizes Stu Alderoty, president of the National Cryptocurrency Association and chief legal officer at Ripple.
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PayPal bets on simplicity
PayPal is trying to lower this barrier. In July, it launched a cryptocurrency payment tool that allows US merchants to accept more than 100 different cryptocurrencies as part of their regular checkout process.
The goal is clear: to make cryptocurrencies a common payment method, not an exotic alternative. If successful, the way people pay online and offline could change significantly in the coming years. And as the numbers suggest, the change has already begun.
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