Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says the era of cryptocurrency being dismissed as a niche financial experiment is over. Speaking after a high-profile White House meeting with President Donald Trump, senior financial regulators and industry leaders, Garlinghouse pointed to new research estimating that 67 million Americans now own digital assets—roughly one in four U.S. adults.
“Crypto isn’t a fringe industry,” Garlinghouse wrote on X on Aug. 20, arguing that the growing population of Crypto holders has made digital assets a mainstream financial reality.
His remarks arrive at a pivotal moment for the industry, as Congress weighs landmark crypto legislation and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) advances new regulatory proposals aimed at digital asset offerings.
Crypto holders reach 67 million in the United States
The widely cited figure comes from the National Cryptocurrency Association’s (NCA) 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report, produced in partnership with The Harris Poll and released earlier this year.
According to the report, approximately 67 million Americans own cryptocurrency, marking an increase of around 12 million from the association’s 2025 estimate. Researchers surveyed 10,000 U.S. adults who identified themselves as current cryptocurrency owners between Feb. 12 and March 3 before weighting the responses to estimate nationwide ownership.
The findings suggest that Crypto holders now represent nearly a quarter of the U.S. adult population, underscoring the rapid expansion of digital asset adoption beyond early enthusiasts and institutional investors.
However, the survey’s methodology is important. Because respondents were already cryptocurrency owners, the detailed behavioral findings describe existing holders rather than the attitudes of all Americans. While the ownership estimate was extrapolated statistically, the report does not claim that every demographic group supports cryptocurrency equally or that ownership translates directly into political influence.
That distinction has become increasingly relevant as industry leaders argue that growing adoption should carry greater weight in Washington’s policy decisions.
Ripple’s role adds context to the research
The report has also attracted attention because of Ripple’s close relationship with the organization behind it.
Ripple committed $50 million to establish the National Cryptocurrency Association, while Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty serves as the organization’s president. The affiliation does not invalidate the survey, but analysts say it provides useful context when interpreting its conclusions.
Alderoty has consistently argued that the expanding community of Crypto holders challenges outdated stereotypes portraying digital asset users as a narrow group of wealthy tech investors.
Instead, the report paints a far broader picture. It found that ownership spans multiple income levels, professions and age groups. Notably, 90% of surveyed holders reported annual incomes below $500,000, while 23% earned $75,000 or less, suggesting adoption extends well beyond affluent households.
The research also highlighted changing demographics among newer investors. Women accounted for 42% of people who first purchased cryptocurrency in 2025 or 2026, compared with 34% among earlier adopters, indicating that participation is becoming increasingly diverse.
Digital assets evolve beyond investing
Perhaps the strongest argument for mainstream adoption lies not in ownership alone but in how people are using cryptocurrency.
The NCA report found that 63% of respondents said they were more interested in using crypto in 2026 than they were in 2025. While investing remains the most common activity, respondents also reported using digital assets for everyday payments, sending money to family and friends, charitable donations and business transactions.
Those findings reinforce The Harris Poll’s broader conclusion that cryptocurrency is becoming part of ordinary financial behavior rather than remaining a speculative niche.
Still, experts caution against overstating the implications. The survey measures the experiences and intentions of existing owners, not Americans who have never purchased digital assets. It also does not evaluate consumer losses, fraud exposure or broader public confidence in cryptocurrency markets.
As a result, Garlinghouse’s claim that crypto is now “mainstream” remains an interpretation of ownership data rather than a universally accepted statistical conclusion. Even so, the sheer size of the Crypto holders population has become difficult for policymakers to ignore.
Washington prepares for the next regulatory battle
The timing of Garlinghouse’s comments is no coincidence.
His White House appearance came as the Trump administration continues pushing Congress to advance the CLARITY Act, legislation designed to establish a comprehensive federal framework dividing cryptocurrency oversight between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
The bill faces a key procedural vote in the Senate on Sept. 15, where lawmakers will need 60 votes to begin formal debate. Even if the motion succeeds, significant disagreements remain over ethics provisions, stablecoin incentives and financial crime safeguards.
Meanwhile, the SEC is pursuing its own regulatory path.
On Aug. 18, the agency proposed Regulation Crypto Assets, introducing two tailored registration exemptions for certain cryptocurrency investment contract offerings. One exemption would allow eligible issuers to raise up to $5 million over four years, while a second would permit offerings of up to $75 million within 12 months, provided companies meet disclosure and reporting requirements.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins, who attended the White House meeting alongside CFTC Chair Michael Selig, has said the proposals are intended to provide clearer pathways for compliant digital asset fundraising while maintaining investor protections.
For the industry, the coming weeks could prove decisive. The expanding base of Crypto holders offers evidence that digital assets have achieved unprecedented public reach, but whether that ownership translates into lasting bipartisan legislation remains uncertain.
As Washington debates the future of crypto regulation, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: millions of Crypto holders are no longer sitting on the sidelines—they are now a meaningful part of America’s financial landscape.
