A new CoinDesk-commissioned poll of 1,000 registered U.S. voters shows that crypto remains a low priority ahead of the midterm elections, with only 1% naming digital assets as their top concern. The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies in late April 2026, also reveals that nearly two-thirds of voters hold a less favorable view of the crypto industry than a more favorable one.
Attention and trust
While just 1% ranked crypto as their most important issue, 25% said it was at least an important issue to them. Trust in regulators appears shaky: 62% of respondents said they did not trust the Trump administration to oversee the crypto sector. An even stronger 73% opposed government officials holding personal business interests in crypto.
Partisan splits on favorability
Favorability varies by political leaning:
- Republican leaners: 41% favorable, 39% unfavorable.
- Independents: 27% favorable, 48% unfavorable.
- Democratic leaners: 26% favorable, 54% unfavorable.
- Base Democrats: 25% favorable, 58% unfavorable.
Usage versus enthusiasm
Despite the cool reception, about 27% of voters said they had invested in or used crypto, and another 27% said they might get involved in the future. However, 65% preferred banks over crypto for financial access. A majority (52%) said crypto is more than a fad, but 60% viewed it as negative for the economy. In the same survey, artificial intelligence drew more favorable impressions than crypto.
Political implications
Nearly 40% of respondents said they would be more inclined to back candidates who share their views on digital assets. That does not necessarily mean support for pro-crypto candidates; given the favorability numbers, many of those views lean skeptical. With only 1% ranking crypto first, it is unlikely to swing a race on its own, but it could serve as a signal issue, especially on ethics, where the 73% opposition to officials holding crypto business interests gives candidates an easy position to stake out.
What it means for the industry
For market participants, the regulatory picture is key. When 62% of voters distrust the current administration’s oversight of the sector, any policy seen as friendly to crypto may face public skepticism rather than applause. The partisan gap adds another layer of risk: with Republican leaners split almost evenly and Democratic groups clearly negative, crypto lacks a dependable base of public support in either party. The usage numbers offer the clearest opportunity—more than a quarter of voters have already used or invested in crypto, and another quarter are considering it. That is a large audience that is engaged but unconvinced. The comparison with banks also deserves attention: if 65% of voters still prefer banks for financial access, crypto’s consumer pitch has not landed with the mainstream, and with 60% viewing crypto as bad for the economy, that challenge is substantial.
