CoinDesk survey: Americans trust banks over crypto
A CoinDesk survey of 1,000 randomly selected U.S. voters finds Americans still prefer traditional finance for financial access. When asked whether they trusted banks or crypto for inclusion, 65% chose banks and only 5% chose crypto. While 52% say crypto is more than a passing fad, 60% expect it to be a mostly negative force in the economy. CoinDesk survey data also shows public sentiment worsening: 53% said recent news coverage made their impression of the crypto industry less favorable.
The poll comes as Congress and federal regulators debate crypto oversight and as the U.S. Senate considers the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a key industry priority tied to stablecoin rewards. Despite distrust, crypto adoption is rising in reach rather than depth: 27% report investing in crypto, and just 2% have more than $10,000 in digital assets.
CoinDesk survey results also highlight an “emerging tech trust gap.” Overall, 55% think AI risks outweigh benefits, and older respondents are notably more skeptical of both AI and crypto. Crypto owners are more supportive, with 64% saying pursuing AI is worth the risks.
For traders, the immediate takeaway is sentiment: weaker mass trust and “scams-first” perceptions can pressure retail inflows, even if regulatory momentum (possible Senate hearings and faster regulator action) remains a potential catalyst for medium-term risk-on positioning.
Bearish
The news is primarily sentiment-negative for crypto: a CoinDesk survey shows only 5% of U.S. voters trust crypto for financial inclusion versus 65% for banks, and 60% expect crypto to be a mostly negative economic force. That combination typically weighs on retail onboarding and can dampen speculative demand during market pullbacks.
Historically, when broader public perception worsens (e.g., periods following high-profile scam headlines or negative coverage cycles), crypto often sees slower spot inflows and higher sensitivity to downside triggers, even if the market has strong technical support. Here, 53% said recent coverage made their impression less favorable.
However, the article also contains a counterweight: the Senate Digital Asset Market Clarity Act could move forward, and regulators appointed by President Trump have signaled faster action. Regulatory clarity expectations often improve medium-term positioning by reducing tail risk around compliance. That’s why the impact is not “strongly” bearish.
Net effect: near-term could be mildly bearish (sentiment and retail confidence), while long-term remains conditional on actual regulatory progress. Traders may watch for whether the Clarity Act timeline improves and whether risk assets (BTC/ETH) can decouple from sentiment-driven headlines.