Survey: Americans Trust Banks 13x More Than Crypto for Their Money

A new survey reveals that Americans overwhelmingly trust traditional banks over cryptocurrency when it comes to managing their money, despite crypto existing for nearly two decades.

The poll of 1,000 US voters found that 65% trust banks more for financial services, while only 5% prefer crypto (digital currencies like Bitcoin). This is surprising since cryptocurrency was originally created as an alternative to banks after the 2008 financial crisis.

Key findings from the survey: • 60% believe crypto will have a mostly negative impact on the economy • 27% of Americans have invested in crypto, but most only have small amounts • Only 2% own more than $10,000 in digital assets • 46% say they don't want anything to do with crypto • Older Americans (45+) are the most skeptical of cryptocurrency

The survey also revealed that men, Republicans, and minority groups tend to view crypto more favorably than other demographics. Young people are more open to crypto than older generations.

Interestingly, the poll also asked about artificial intelligence (AI - computer systems that can think and learn). Similar to crypto, 55% believe AI's risks outweigh its benefits, with older Americans being the most concerned.

This lack of trust comes at a crucial time as the crypto industry pushes for new regulations in Congress. The findings suggest that despite crypto's growth and mainstream attention, most Americans still prefer the traditional banking system they know and understand.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/05/03/americans-still-prefer-banks-over-crypto-for-financial-access-coindesk-s-survey-shows