Cryptocurrency had already entered mainstream awareness by 2021, but familiarity did not equal trust. CouponCabin commissioned The Harris Poll to measure how U.S. adults viewed digital currencies like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more. The results showed broad awareness, uneven familiarity across coins, and a divided view of the future of crypto.
Bitcoin Led Crypto Awareness
Nearly 9 in 10 Americans, 89%, had at least heard of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin led the category by a wide margin, with 71% of Americans saying they were familiar with it, but familiarity dropped sharply after Bitcoin. Here’s what it looked like:
- Bitcoin: 71%
- Dogecoin: 29%
- USD Coin: 21%
- Ethereum: 21%
- Litecoin: 18%
- Stellar: 10%
Dogecoin Outranked Ethereum in Familiarity
Dogecoin drew more name recognition than Ethereum in the survey, 29% to 21%. Meme-driven attention clearly cut through with consumers.
Americans Were Split on What Crypto Meant
Crypto did not carry one clear reputation.
31% of Americans described cryptocurrencies as the future of money.
30% described them as innovative.
23% viewed them as a get-rich-quick scheme.
19% described them as nefarious or shady.
Americans knew what crypto was. They did not agree on whether it represented financial progress or financial risk.
The Rise of Crypto as Cash Back
Surprisingly, the survey found that 44% of Americans would be interested in receiving cryptocurrency as an alternative to traditional cash back rewards from retailers or cash back websites. That put crypto on the radar as a possible rewards format, even without broad consumer trust.
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