112 Million Americans Want Banks to Offer Cryptocurrency Services, National Cryptocurrency Association Report Finds
The National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) has released its 2026 Crypto at the Bank Report, revealing growing consumer interest in cryptocurrency services offered through traditional financial institutions. The research suggests that banks and credit unions could have an opportunity to attract new customers, strengthen existing relationships, and expand their financial services by providing access to cryptocurrency products and education.
According to the report, approximately 112 million Americans would be more likely to open an account with a bank that offers cryptocurrency services or use that institution for a greater share of their financial needs. The findings indicate that consumers are increasingly interested in accessing digital assets through familiar financial institutions rather than relying exclusively on dedicated cryptocurrency platforms.
The study was conducted in partnership with The Harris Poll and surveyed more than 2,000 adults in the United States. It examined consumer attitudes toward cryptocurrency access through banks, credit unions, and financial advisors, as well as the level of trust Americans place in different sources of cryptocurrency information.
The results highlight several potential opportunities for financial institutions, including cryptocurrency investment products, digital asset trading and custody, and educational resources that help customers understand the risks and potential benefits of crypto-related investments.
Consumer Demand Creates Opportunities for Banks
The report indicates that cryptocurrency services could influence how Americans select and use financial institutions. Approximately 35% of respondents said they would be more likely to open an account with a bank offering cryptocurrency services, while 36% said they would be more likely to use such a bank for additional financial needs.
The report also found that consumers who would be more likely to open an account with a bank offering crypto outnumber those who would be less likely to do so by roughly two to one. Specifically, 35% expressed increased interest in opening an account, compared with 18% who said they would be less likely to open one.
These findings suggest that cryptocurrency could become a differentiating factor in banking relationships, particularly as financial institutions compete to attract younger customers and respond to changing expectations around digital financial services.
Banks have traditionally built their businesses around deposits, payments, lending, wealth management, and other financial products. However, customer interest in digital assets may encourage institutions to evaluate whether cryptocurrency-related services should become part of their broader offerings.
Potential services include access to cryptocurrency investment products, digital asset custody, trading capabilities, and financial advice related to digital assets. Institutions could also explore partnerships with specialized providers to introduce these services while maintaining appropriate operational controls and regulatory compliance.
The opportunity extends beyond attracting new customers. Existing account holders may choose to consolidate more of their financial activities with institutions that offer products aligned with their evolving investment interests.
For banks, this could create opportunities to strengthen customer engagement and develop additional relationships across retail banking, investment services, and wealth management.
Cryptocurrency Products Americans Want From Financial Institutions
The research identifies several cryptocurrency-related products that consumers would like to access through traditional financial institutions.
According to the report, 22% of respondents expressed interest in cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or other crypto investment funds. Another 22% said they were interested in the ability to buy and hold cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, 19% expressed interest in digital stocks, bonds, or real estate.
These preferences suggest that consumer demand encompasses several different approaches to digital asset exposure rather than a single product category.
Cryptocurrency ETFs and investment funds may appeal to customers who prefer accessing digital assets through familiar investment accounts and established financial service providers. Depending on the product, these investment vehicles can provide exposure to cryptocurrency prices without requiring investors to manage digital wallets or private keys directly.
The ability to buy and hold cryptocurrency represents another area of interest. Banks that offer these services, either directly or through qualified partners, could give customers an additional way to manage their digital asset holdings alongside their other financial activities.
Interest in digital stocks, bonds, and real estate also points to a broader curiosity about how digital technologies may change the ownership, transfer, and administration of financial and real-world assets. Tokenization can represent certain assets or ownership rights digitally, although the legal structure, investor protections, liquidity, and risks vary significantly across products.
For financial institutions considering these opportunities, product selection will be important. Different customer groups may have different objectives, levels of investment knowledge, and tolerance for risk.
Banks will also need to distinguish between products that provide direct cryptocurrency ownership, investment funds that offer crypto exposure, and tokenized financial or real-world assets. These products have different structures and may be subject to different regulatory requirements.
Banks May Be Missing Opportunities to Discuss Crypto
Despite growing interest, the report suggests that many financial institutions have not initiated conversations about cryptocurrency with their customers.
Stuart Alderoty, president of the National Cryptocurrency Association, said Americans increasingly expect the financial institutions they already know and trust to provide access to cryptocurrency-related services.
According to the research, 64% of consumers, representing approximately 168 million Americans, said no one at their bank, credit union, or financial advisor’s office had ever raised the subject of cryptocurrency.
Additionally, 43% of respondents said they did not know whether their bank offered cryptocurrency services.
The findings point to a potential communication gap between financial institutions and consumers interested in understanding digital assets. Even where institutions have introduced crypto-related products or partnerships, customers may not be aware of their availability.
For banks and credit unions, providing clear information could help address this gap. Institutions could introduce educational materials, explain available products, outline relevant risks, and help customers understand how cryptocurrency services differ from traditional banking and investment products.
Financial advisors may also play a role by discussing digital assets within the context of a customer’s financial goals, investment horizon, liquidity requirements, and overall portfolio.
The report further found that when banks and financial advisors do discuss cryptocurrency, they are approximately four times as likely to recommend it as to advise against it. Among respondents reporting such conversations, 52% said the institution or advisor recommended crypto, compared with 12% who said they were advised against it.
This finding reflects the nature of reported consumer experiences and does not establish that cryptocurrency is suitable for every investor. Recommendations should be based on individual circumstances, product characteristics, risk tolerance, and applicable professional standards.
Nevertheless, the results indicate that cryptocurrency is already part of some financial conversations, even as many consumers report that the topic has never been raised by their primary financial institutions.
Younger Adults and Diverse Consumer Groups Show Strong Interest
The report found particularly strong interest in cryptocurrency services among younger adults, parents of children under 18, and several racial and ethnic communities.
Among parents with children under 18, 62% said they would be more likely to open an account with a bank offering cryptocurrency services or use that institution for more of their financial needs.
Adults aged 35 to 44 also demonstrated strong interest, with 58% expressing a greater likelihood of engaging with a bank that provides crypto access.
Among Hispanic adults, 57% indicated greater interest, while 56% of Black adults reported a similar preference. For adults aged 18 to 34, the figure was 54%.
Across all adults, the report placed the corresponding figure at approximately 42% for the combined measure of greater interest in opening an account or using the bank for more financial needs.
The differences between the reported figures for specific questions and combined measures reflect the survey’s presentation of distinct consumer-interest indicators. The findings should be interpreted in the context of the report’s underlying question wording.
For financial institutions, these results suggest that customer expectations around digital assets may vary by age, household circumstances, and demographic group. Banks evaluating new services could use customer research to understand these differences rather than assuming that all consumers share the same level of interest.
Younger customers, in particular, may expect financial providers to offer convenient digital experiences and access to emerging financial products. Providing understandable information about cryptocurrency could help banks engage these customers while ensuring they are aware of the potential for substantial price fluctuations and other risks.
Consumers Place Greater Trust in Financial Advisors and Banks
The NCA research also examined which sources Americans consider reliable when seeking information about cryptocurrency.
Financial advisors ranked highest, with 67% of respondents saying they were very or somewhat confident that advisors could provide reliable crypto guidance.
Banks and credit unions followed at 64%. Cryptocurrency education organizations received the same level of confidence as crypto exchanges and platforms, at 63% each.
Online brokerages were trusted by 58% of respondents, while financial news media received 55%. Friends, family members, and colleagues were viewed as reliable by 47% of respondents. Social media and online communities ranked lowest among the listed sources, at 39%.
These findings demonstrate the potential importance of established financial relationships in helping consumers evaluate digital assets.
Banks and credit unions already maintain relationships with customers through deposit accounts, lending, payments, and other financial services. Financial advisors also work with clients to assess investment goals, evaluate portfolio risks, and make decisions based on their individual circumstances.
That existing trust could help financial institutions provide a more structured environment for cryptocurrency education.
Ali Tager, vice president of external affairs at the National Cryptocurrency Association, said consumers seeking information about crypto want clear and trustworthy answers rather than promotional messaging. Tager emphasized that banks and financial advisors can help people navigate cryptocurrency by initiating conversations and offering educational resources.
For institutions, this may involve explaining how different digital assets work, how crypto-related investment products are structured, and what customers should consider before investing.
Education can also address issues such as cybersecurity, fraud, custody arrangements, tax considerations, liquidity, and the possibility of losing some or all of an investment.
Providing balanced information is especially important because cryptocurrency products differ substantially in their underlying assets, operating structures, and risk profiles.
More Americans Are Comfortable With Banks Holding Crypto
The report also points to growing consumer comfort with the possibility of banks holding cryptocurrency on customers’ behalf.
According to the research, 59% of Americans, representing approximately 156 million people, said they would be very or somewhat comfortable with their primary bank holding cryptocurrency for them.
Custody services involve safeguarding digital assets and supporting the processes required to manage them securely. Depending on the service arrangement, responsibilities may include protecting cryptographic keys, managing access controls, maintaining transaction records, and establishing procedures for addressing operational or security incidents.
For customers unfamiliar with digital wallets and private-key management, custody through a financial institution may offer a more familiar way to access digital assets.
However, cryptocurrency custody differs from holding deposits in a traditional bank account. Customers need to understand the legal arrangements governing their assets, the protections available to them, the institution’s responsibilities, and whether any deposit insurance or other safeguards apply. Cryptocurrency holdings should not automatically be assumed to receive the same protections as conventional bank deposits.
Financial institutions considering custody services must also evaluate cybersecurity requirements, operational resilience, third-party relationships, and applicable laws and regulations.
The survey’s findings indicate consumer openness to these services, but actual adoption will depend on product availability, pricing, security, regulatory clarity, and confidence in the institutions providing them.
Consumers Expect Crypto to Become More Common in Banking
Looking ahead, 60% of respondents said they expected most U.S. banks to offer cryptocurrency services within the next decade.
Expectations were even higher among younger adults. Among Americans aged 18 to 34, 74% anticipated that most banks would provide crypto offerings within ten years.
These expectations suggest that many consumers view cryptocurrency as a potential part of the future financial services landscape. However, expectations about future availability do not necessarily indicate that consumers intend to purchase or hold digital assets themselves.
For banks, the findings raise strategic questions about how to respond to changing customer preferences. Some institutions may choose to develop their own capabilities, while others may work with specialized cryptocurrency providers or offer access through brokerage and investment platforms.
The appropriate approach will depend on each institution’s business model, customer base, risk appetite, technology infrastructure, and regulatory obligations.
Institutions that decide to enter the market will need to consider governance, consumer disclosures, anti-money-laundering controls, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, and the operational risks associated with digital asset services.
Those that do not currently plan to offer cryptocurrency may still benefit from educating customers about digital assets and explaining the institution’s position on related products and services.
Education and Trust Will Shape Future Adoption
The National Cryptocurrency Association’s 2026 Crypto at the Bank Report highlights a potential opportunity for financial institutions to respond to consumer interest in digital assets.
The findings suggest that cryptocurrency services could influence account-opening decisions, encourage customers to consolidate more financial activities with a single institution, and create opportunities for banks to expand their investment and advisory offerings.
At the same time, the reported lack of communication between financial institutions and customers indicates that awareness and education remain important challenges. Many consumers do not know whether their banks offer crypto-related services, while others have never discussed the subject with a financial professional.
By providing accessible education, transparent disclosures, and suitable product options, financial institutions can help customers make more informed decisions about cryptocurrency.
The survey also underscores the importance of distinguishing consumer interest from investment suitability. Although many Americans express openness to crypto access through banks, digital assets can involve significant volatility, technological risks, regulatory uncertainty, and potential financial losses.
As cryptocurrency becomes a more prominent topic in financial services, banks, credit unions, and financial advisors will need to balance innovation with responsible customer support.
The NCA’s research indicates that Americans increasingly expect cryptocurrency to become part of conversations about mainstream banking. Whether that interest translates into widespread adoption will depend on how financial institutions address customer demand, establish appropriate safeguards, and provide the reliable guidance consumers say they want.
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