Key facts
- The crypto industry is projected to contribute $55 billion to the U.S. economy in 2026.
- The NCA study, backed by Ripple Labs, bases its findings on direct, indirect, and induced employment.
- Crypto companies directly employ an estimated 34,000 people in the U.S., supporting a total of 232,000 jobs.
- Sectors benefiting include securities and commodity contracts ($9.7 billion) and housing/real estate ($4.8 billion).
- Texas, Washington, North Carolina, California, and New York are leading states for crypto employment.
- Several crypto projects, including Entropy and Dmail, ceased operations in 2026.
The National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), an organization supported by Ripple Labs, has released a study estimating the crypto industry's economic contribution to the United States. The report, prepared by the Pragmatic Policy Group, projects that the industry will contribute $55 billion to the U.S. economy in 2026 through salaries, worker spending, and overall output. This figure is derived from an analysis of direct, indirect, and induced employment across the economy.
The study found that the crypto industry directly employs approximately 34,000 individuals in the U.S., and supports a total of 232,000 jobs across various sectors. This direct employment number surpasses that of industries like coffee and tea manufacturing and aerospace, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Significant economic benefits were observed in investments related to securities and commodity contracts, totaling $9.7 billion, and a combined $4.8 billion in the housing and real estate sectors.
Geographically, Texas, Washington, North Carolina, California, and New York lead in terms of employment within the crypto industry. The report also highlighted Colorado as a burgeoning blockchain hub due to its favorable regulatory environment, and North Dakota as an emerging energy-integrated digital infrastructure hub, benefiting from tax laws favorable to crypto mining and flare gas policies.
The NCA itself was established in March 2025 as a non-profit entity focused on consumer crypto education, with initial backing of $50 million from Ripple. Stuart Alderoty, Ripple's chief legal officer, leads the organization.
Despite the projected economic growth, the report also notes that the crypto industry experienced multiple shutdowns in 2026. Projects such as Entropy, Dmail, Tally, and Balancer Labs ceased operations during the year, citing challenges related to scaling, market conditions, and operational expenses.