Nearly 20% of Americans Would Prefer Crypto Over Gift Cards This Holiday Season: PayPal

Why It Matters

The shift signals growing mainstream acceptance of digital assets as a payment and gifting method, prompting retailers and payment processors to expand crypto support. It also highlights a generational divide that could shape future financial‑services strategies and regulatory focus.

Summary

A PayPal‑partnered survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults finds that 17% would rather receive cryptocurrency than a gift card this holiday season, and 31% think crypto gifts are less likely to go unused. Among current crypto holders, roughly 65% are giving or considering giving crypto, while half expect to receive it. Younger adults drive the trend, with 22% planning to gift crypto and 30% intending to shop with it, compared with just 3% of those over 55. Respondents cite potential value appreciation, spending flexibility, and the speed of transactions as key reasons for preferring crypto gifts.