Cryptocurrency is quietly stepping out of its niche corner and walking straight into America’s cash registers. Nearly 40% of U.S. retailers now accept digital currency at checkout, and the numbers keep climbing. This isn’t some distant future anymore—it’s happening right now at stores across the country.
Nearly 40% of U.S. retailers now accept cryptocurrency—this isn’t the future, it’s happening right now at checkout counters nationwide.
The momentum feels unstoppable. A remarkable 84% of merchants predict crypto payments will become standard within five years, while 31% believe it’s already common or will be within just twelve months. These aren’t wild guesses either. Actual customer behavior backs up the predictions, with 88% of merchants reporting shoppers asking about cryptocurrency payment options.
The transaction volumes tell an even bigger story. Stablecoin transactions rocketed to $33 trillion in 2025, jumping 72% from the previous year. Monthly volumes peaked at nearly $970 billion in August 2025, showing how quickly people embraced this technology. Stablecoins now represent 30% of all on-chain crypto transactions, proving they’ve moved far beyond experimental status. Many users store and move funds using hot and cold wallets depending on convenience and security needs.
Traditional payment giants are joining the party too. Visa’s stablecoin-linked card spending hit a $3.5 billion annualized run rate in late 2025, exploding 460% year-over-year. Overall crypto card spending exceeded $18 billion on an annualized basis by early 2026. These cards work just like regular payment cards, making crypto spending practically invisible to casual users. Visa’s stablecoin settlement volumes reached a $4.5 billion annualized run rate by January 2026.
Merchants have strong reasons to jump aboard. Among those already accepting cryptocurrency, digital payments account for more than 26% of total sales. That’s not pocket change—it’s a significant revenue stream. Additionally, 79% of merchants believe crypto could attract new customers, while 69% report existing customers want to use it at least monthly. For merchants already on board, 72% report increased crypto sales over the past year.
The growth extends beyond retail shopping. Stablecoin remittances and person-to-person payments reached $19 billion annualized by August 2025. Business-to-business payments surged from under $100 million monthly in early 2023 to over $6 billion by mid-2025. Traditional checkout isn’t disappearing overnight, but it’s definitely getting some serious competition from its digital cousin.
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