42% of U.S. Adults Say Crypto Could Sway Their Banking Decisions

A bank offering crypto would make 42% of U.S. adults more likely to open an account or bring it more business, signaling potential demand for digital asset services at traditional institutions.

The combined group represents an estimated 112 million people. The responses cover two overlapping groups: 35% would be more likely to open an account, while 36% would give a bank a greater share of their financial business if it offered crypto. The questions measured stated intentions under a hypothetical offer, rather than actual account changes.

Banks were less popular as a place to buy crypto. A crypto exchange or app drew 19% of respondents, the largest share among the listed purchase venues. Payment apps drew 15%, and banks or credit unions drew 14%. Another 24% said they would not buy crypto anywhere.

Crypto services could also discourage some prospective customers. An 18% share said such an offering would make them less likely to open an account, and 16% said they would be less likely to use the bank for more financial needs.

Bank custody drew a different response. A total of 59% said they would be very or somewhat comfortable letting their primary bank hold crypto for them, including 30% who were very comfortable and 29% who were somewhat comfortable. Another 21% were uncomfortable, and 20% were unsure.

Interest in specific products was narrower. Crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or other funds and the ability to buy and hold crypto through a primary financial institution each appealed to 22% of respondents. Digital stocks, bonds or real estate interested 19%.

64% said no one at their bank, credit union or financial adviser's office had raised crypto with them. Another 43% did not know whether their bank offered crypto services.

Looking ahead, 60% expected most U.S. banks to offer crypto within 10 years. That share reached 74% among adults ages 18 to 34. Those figures measure consumer expectations, not bank rollout plans.

The National Cryptocurrency Association commissioned the online survey of 2,017 U.S. adults, conducted by The Harris Poll Sept. 15-16. Its stated sampling precision is ±2.7 percentage points at the 95% level using a Bayesian credible interval; intervals are wider for subgroups.