The holiday season is upon us, and something different is showing up on gift wish lists this year: crypto.
Crypto conversations are moving beyond investing into other practical use cases, including gifting, spending, and donating. The NCA just teamed up with PayPal to release the 2025 Holiday Crypto Report, which provides fresh insight into how shoppers are thinking about crypto this season.
A New Way to Gift
We polled 2,000 U.S. adults and learned that this year, crypto is showing up on holiday gift lists in a meaningful way. Nearly one in four (24%) have given or are considering giving crypto as a holiday gift.
And among current crypto holders, interest is even higher: almost two-thirds (65%) have given, plan to give, or are considering gifting crypto – and half expect to receive it themselves.
We already send money to family, give gift cards to friends, and hope to avoid the stress of picking out the perfect item for everyone special in our lives. Crypto simply adds another option, one that travels instantly, doesn’t require wrapping paper, and can even gain value over time.
Crypto is Competing with Gift Cards
Gift cards have been a holiday staple for decades. But this year, the data shows interest in crypto as an alternative.
Almost one in five (17%) would prefer to receive crypto over a gift card, with that number rising to 54% among crypto holders
More than one in ten (11%) have already gifted crypto and 13% have received it, while 14% plan to gift crypto in the next year
Over two-thirds (68%) say they’re always looking for exciting new gift ideas
There’s another factor at play too: unused gift cards. Americans left an average of $90 unspent on gift cards last year. Instead of a gift card that might sit in a drawer, a crypto gift can hold lasting value and can be used anytime, anywhere a recipient chooses. And 31% of Americans say crypto gifts are less likely to go unused than gift cards.
The other reasons people are turning to crypto instead of gift cards?
More than half see potential for crypto gifts to increase in value over time (58%) and appreciate the greater flexibility crypto offers for spending or investing (54%)
Almost half say crypto is easier to store and manage digitally (49%) and think it feels more exciting (45%) and faster (40%) to receive
Shopping With Crypto: Coming Into View
Crypto isn’t just showing up as a gift: it’s appearing in-store and online, too.
When it comes to shopping, holders are eager to see crypto as a payment option at checkout. For those who are already embracing digital assets:
About four in five (82%) would consider paying with crypto if more retailers accepted it as a payment option, and more than half (55%) even say they are more likely to shop at merchants that do accept crypto
Almost one-quarter (23%) are likely to use crypto for holiday shopping this year
Beyond the holidays, almost two-thirds (62%) plan to shop with crypto in the next 12 months
So, what do they want to buy with crypto?
Clothing (53%)
Jewelry (49%)
Everyday essentials (48%)
Direct crypto gifting (50%)
Why? Top reasons include opportunity to earn crypto rewards (42%), enhanced privacy (38%), lower fees (36%), and fast processing (34%).
Barriers to Crypto Spending
One major barrier for people who want to spend with crypto is merchant acceptance. In fact, 35% of crypto holders say “not enough stores accept it.” Moves from major payment providers like PayPal are helping bridge that gap by making it easier to spend digital assets at checkout, even when a store doesn’t natively support crypto yet.
Another barrier for those curious about gifting crypto is a lack of understanding (38%) and not knowing how to gift crypto yet (36%).
Gifting a small amount to your crypto-curious friends and family can be a gentle introduction as a way to get:
Hands-on experience using the technology in practical, everyday ways
Opportunities to learn about digital wallets and transfers
More comfortable engaging in the crypto economy
This is where trusted guidance matters. Helping people understand how to participate and use crypto with confidence is a core focus for the NCA. In case you missed it, we just launched even more crypto learning resources on our website here.
Final Thoughts
Crypto is finding a place at the holiday table — as a gift, a shopping tool, and a conversation starter about the digital economy. As a modern take on a classic holiday gift, it’s fast, secure, and can be used or saved – while also potentially growing in value.
And although millions are already using crypto today, there is opportunity for millions more to get on-chain. In fact, 30% of consumers said they could be convinced to gift crypto if they had better information about its benefits and safety measures. If you’re one of them, check out our explainers on how to safely store your crypto and all the ways you can actually use it.