67 Million Americans Now Hold Crypto; Construction and Manufacturing Workers Surpass Finance in Ownership

The image of the typical crypto holder as a 28-year-old software engineer glued to price trackers is fading fast. A new report from the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) estimates that about 67 million U.S. adults now own cryptocurrency, with the strongest growth coming from outside the traditional tech and finance crowd. According to the NCA's 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report, construction and manufacturing workers account for 21% of all crypto holders. Tech workers represent 18%, while finance professionals make up about 8%. The NCA surveyed 10,000 crypto holders between February 12 and March 3, 2026. The study puts overall adoption at roughly one in four U.S. adults, up from about 55 million holders a year earlier, an increase of 12 million in a single year. Among first-time buyers in 2025 or 2026, 42% are women, compared with 34% among earlier adopters. Older Americans are also showing up in greater numbers: nearly 28% of new holders are over 55. Usage is increasingly practical. In the survey, 41% said they use crypto to send money to family and friends, and 40% reported using it for shopping and payments. More than half of holders have household income below $150,000, and nearly a quarter earn under $75,000. The report notes that blue-collar participation also reflects the size of the workforce: the U.S. employs far more people in construction sites and factories than in software engineering or hedge funds. The shift may carry regulatory implications. When crypto ownership was concentrated among higher-income tech circles, policymakers could treat it as a niche issue. A user base of 67 million Americans spread across major industries makes that stance harder to sustain.