Catenaa, Tuesday, January 27, 2026- Cryptocurrency payments are gaining traction among large businesses, with most merchants expecting digital assets to become common at checkout within five years, according to a new PayPal-backed survey released today.
The survey of about 620 payment strategy decision-makers conducted in October 2025 found nearly 85% expect crypto payments to see broad use by 2031.
Almost nine in 10 merchants said customers have already asked about paying with cryptocurrency, while roughly 40% reported accepting crypto today.
Among merchants that accept crypto, respondents said digital assets account for more than a quarter of total sales.
About three-quarters said crypto-based sales rose over the past year, suggesting growing consumer use despite limited overall market penetration.
Adoption appears strongest among large enterprises. About half of respondents with more than $500 million in annual revenue said they accept cryptocurrency payments.
That compares with 34% of small businesses and 32% of midsize firms.
The findings come as regulatory clarity increases in the stablecoin sector following passage of the GENIUS Act, which set rules for issuing and transacting fiat-pegged tokens.
PayPal was among the first major payment companies to roll out a stablecoin, a step now mirrored by banks and fintech firms.
Merchant hesitation appears tied less to demand and more to usability. Roughly 90% of respondents said they would test crypto payments if the experience matched traditional card payments and if setup were similarly simple.
Industry groups say partnerships with established platforms are helping bridge knowledge gaps and normalize crypto use in daily commerce, particularly as stablecoins reduce price volatility concerns for businesses.
