A total of 35% of US adults want candidates in the November 2026 midterm elections to support the development of next-generation financial technology innovations. However, public support plummets to 13% when survey questions include the terms blockchain, cryptocurrency, and decentralized finance (DeFi). That 22-percentage-point gap was revealed in a national poll of 1,545 respondents conducted by Ipsos alongside the DeFi Education Foundation.
The poll results highlight a stark contrast: the public is demanding fundamental overhauls to how money is managed, while simultaneously rejecting the very terminology that represents the digital asset sector.
Only 19% View the Financial System as Secure
Dissatisfaction with conventional banking is widespread across the survey data. Only 19% of respondents view the current US financial system as secure, while 63% believe the system urgently needs modernization to address new threats. Public doubt also extends to technological safeguards: 54% of respondents doubt the ability of traditional financial institutions to protect customer personal data from artificial intelligence (AI)-based threats.
Privacy demands emerged as the most dominant sentiment in the survey. A resounding 80% of respondents demand changes that grant individuals full control over their personal data, and 74% emphasize that financial privacy is critical. When conducting financial transactions, 62% of respondents prefer that their personal data remain confidential and not be shared.
24/7 Access and Skepticism Toward DeFi Platforms
Liquidity needs further fuel the push for modernization. Around 66% of respondents demand uninterrupted, 24/7 access to their deposited funds. On the other hand, only 49% of respondents currently feel they have genuine personal control over their financial assets at existing institutions.
Although these demands align directly with the core functions of decentralized technology, the public does not yet trust DeFi as a solution. Only 9% of respondents report being very familiar with crypto. That figure drops even further when it comes to trust: just 5% of respondents place substantial confidence in decentralized platforms.
Ownership Rises, Active Users Stalled at 13%
Digital asset ownership in the US has actually shown gradual gains. A total of 22% of Americans have owned or used crypto at some point in their lives, up from 18% in the 2025 survey. Nonetheless, that growth has not translated into daily activity, as active usage over the past 12 months remains stagnant at 13%.
For the crypto industry and policymakers, these findings highlight a clear reality on the ground: voters desire self-sovereign control, complete privacy, and continuous access to funds, yet the reputation of the blockchain label continues to spark resistance before users even engage with the services.
Reported via crypto.news.
Also read: Netanyahu Demands Blockchain Plan to Counter Bank Sanctions - Assets and Timeline Unspecified
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
