The National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), a nonprofit backed by Ripple Labs and focused on expanding crypto education, published research estimating the economic impact of the cryptocurrency industry in the United States for 2026. Working with analytic firm Pragmatic Policy Group, the NCA calculated that salaries, worker spending, and overall output from the sector are set to inject $55 billion into the US economy this year.
Data on crypto employment and economic impact
The Pragmatic Policy Group’s report measured the crypto sector’s role across direct, indirect, and induced employment, highlighting its growing relevance. The analysis found that about 34,000 people are directly employed by crypto companies in the US. Factoring in supply chain jobs and spending by workers, the total number of jobs supported rises to 232,000 across the economy.
Compared to other industries, direct employment in US crypto companies now surpasses the number of jobs in sectors like coffee and tea manufacturing and aerospace, as shown by US Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The NCA emphasized that “investments in securities and commodity contracts” generated $9.7 billion, making it the largest single sector by economic contribution, followed by “housing and real estate,” which accounted for $4.8 billion in combined value.
Several states stand out for crypto-related employment. Texas, Washington, North Carolina, California, and New York support the most industry jobs. Colorado is described as a “growing blockchain hub” due to supportive regulation, while North Dakota is emerging as an “energy-integrated digital infrastructure hub” based on its favorable tax environment for crypto mining and progressive flare gas policies.
The NCA was founded in March 2025, aiming to promote consumer awareness and understanding of digital assets. With $50 million in funding from Ripple, the group is headed by Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty.
Mini dictionary: Flare gas policies are regulations governing the capture or use of natural gas produced as a byproduct during oil extraction, which is often flared (burned off). Policies allowing for crypto mining operations to use this otherwise wasted energy have attracted mining ventures to some states.
| Category | Economic Contribution |
|---|---|
| Investments in securities and commodity contracts | $9.7 billion |
| Housing and real estate (combined) | $4.8 billion |
The industry experienced multiple shutdowns in 2026
Despite its strong economic contribution, the crypto industry has also faced headwinds in 2026, with several digital asset projects ceasing operations. Companies cited market volatility, scaling difficulties, and operational costs as reasons for closing.
In January, New York-based crypto start-up Entropy ended operations after four years. Singapore’s decentralized email platform Dmail began shutting down in May, mentioning the unsustainable costs of bandwidth, storage, and computing resources. Other closures included decentralized governance platform Tally and Balancer Labs, both of which closed in March.
Numerous crypto companies have ended operations in 2026 due to financial difficulties and a challenging market environment, according to industry statements.
