A survey of more than 2,000 adults in the US has revealed a curious shift in holiday gift preferences: cryptocurrencies are becoming more popular than traditional gift cards. According to the findings, 31% of respondents consider digital assets more practical as the risk of them going unused is lower. Besides, 23% of those surveyed expressed a willingness to pay for purchases using cryptocurrency, with this figure rising to 62% among current digital coin holders.

Participants in the research, conducted by NCA in collaboration with PayPal, highlighted key advantages of gifting cryptocurrency: the potential for value appreciation (58%), the ability to choose favorable moments for spending (54%), and the convenience of storage (49%). However, technical complexity remains a barrier for 38% of Americans, who admitted they do not fully understand the mechanics of these payments. The data show a clear generational divide: 41% of individuals aged 18 to 54 are willing to give or receive cryptocurrency as a gift, whereas interest in the older age group is just 9%.

Amid the growing interest in digital assets, the Russian marketplace Wildberries has begun testing cryptocurrency payment acceptance in Belarus. The pilot project is launched for residents of the Minsk High-Tech Park—a special economic zone with a legal framework permitting such transactions to be conducted legally.