As GENIUS Act Passes, More Than Half of Americans Don't Understand Crypto and 61% Have Never Heard of CBDCs, Aevi Data Shows
LONDON, June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the US government moves forward with the GENIUS Act, paving the way for a stablecoin-backed future and federal support for digital currency payments, new research from payment platform Aevi reveals:
- 53% of Americans say they don't understand cryptocurrency
- 61% have never heard of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)
- Only 8% of women report using crypto, compared to nearly 1 in 5 men, raising urgent concerns about a growing financial gender gap
- New Hampshire, one of the wealthiest and most highly educated US states, ranks last for crypto awareness and ownership (89% and 11% respectively)
- Nebraska leads the nation in crypto ownership (44%), yet few residents report seeing businesses accept it, highlighting a broader pattern where holding crypto doesn't always mean being able to use it
Aevi's nationally representative survey of 2,004 US adults exposes some dramatic gaps in both awareness and adoption of crypto and CBDCs, as most Americans still don't understand how these technologies work, or what they are and with women and older adults the least likely to engage, millions risk being locked out of this digital financial revolution.
Despite the recent surge in institutional interest for crypto and now federal backing, consumer-facing adoption, especially for in-person or retail payments, remains virtually non-existent. Most users still interact with crypto online only, while many haven't noticed any local businesses accepting digital currencies at all.
"The GENIUS Act is a reflection of growing regulatory interest," said Mike Camerling, CEO at Aevi. "But the data makes it clear: the average American isn't ready. We're facing a widening disconnect between Washington's ambitions and public understanding, especially when it comes to perception, education, and real-world payments. Women and older adults in particular risk being left behind, and this should be a wake-up call. We launched this survey to test the public's awareness and readiness across the country - what we found was a fractured state-by-state landscape with wildly uneven levels of adoption. If digital currencies are to succeed, we need more focused education and a more accessible, inclusive narrative"
The full report breaks down adoption by age, gender, and state, revealing the surprising cultural and regional factors that may shape the future of digital money.
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SOURCE Aevi