Cryptocurrency began in part as an answer to the missteps and abuses of banks during the 2008 financial crisis, but despite existing almost two decades and capturing wide attention, the public hasn't been sold on that point and still favors the traditional financial system for their financial access, according to new polling commissioned by CoinDesk.
When asked which they trusted more between banks and crypto when it came to financial inclusion, 65% of respondents to an online survey said banks and only 5% favored crypto. Though slightly more than half (52%) agree that the movement is more than a passing fad, 60% think crypto will be a mostly negative force in the economy.
That's according to 1,000 randomly selected U.S. voters surveyed last week by research firm Public Opinion Strategies. The survey is meant to get a snapshot of public sentiment as crypto and artificial intelligence issues wind their way through Congress, federal regulators and the political campaigns that are steaming toward this year's congressional midterm elections.
This article is part of a CoinDesk series on voters' views for the 2026 midterm election.
