Crypto industry to contribute $55B to US economy in 2026: NCA study

A recent study by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), supported by Ripple Labs, estimates that the crypto industry will contribute $55 billion to the U.S. economy in 2026 through salaries, worker spending, and overall output. The report, produced by the Pragmatic Policy Group for the NCA, calculates this figure by including direct, indirect, and induced employment effects. Notably, investments in securities and commodity contracts account for $9.7 billion of that total, while housing and real estate contribute $4.8 billion.

The study highlights that approximately 34,000 people are directly employed by crypto companies in the U.S., with the industry supporting a total of 232,000 jobs across the broader economy. This direct employment surpasses that of sectors such as coffee and tea manufacturing and aerospace, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The states with the largest crypto-related employment are Texas, Washington, North Carolina, California, and New York, though Colorado is identified as a "growing blockchain hub" due to friendly regulations. North Dakota is also gaining prominence as a crypto mining center because of favorable tax policies and environmental laws.

The NCA was formed in March 2025 as a nonprofit focused on consumer education around crypto, backed with $50 million from Ripple. Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s chief legal officer, leads the organization. Despite the positive economic impact outlined in the study, the crypto industry has also faced challenges in 2026, with several projects such as Entropy, Dmail, Tally, and Balancer Labs shutting down due to scaling difficulties and unfavorable market conditions.

This research frames the crypto sector as a significant and growing contributor to the U.S. economy, particularly in employment and investment. However, ongoing challenges demonstrate that the industry is still navigating operational and market risks even as it expands.