Visa: AI and crypto reshape holiday shopping — Gen Z leads digital payments shift
Visa’s consumer survey finds AI and cryptocurrency are materially influencing holiday shopping habits in the U.S., driven largely by Gen Z. Key findings: 47% of U.S. shoppers used AI for at least one shopping task (gift discovery most common); 28% would accept crypto as a gift (45% among Gen Z); 44% of Gen Z have made purchases with cryptocurrency; 71% of Gen Z use biometric authentication; 36% of Gen Z prefer digital wallets over physical cards. Security and transparency remain concerns: 61% prefer human customer service, 60% want clearer data-use transparency from AI, and 66% worry about online scams. Visa also reports earlier shopping patterns and forecasts a 4.6% year-over-year rise in U.S. holiday spending. For traders, the survey signals rising consumer familiarity and potential demand tailwinds for crypto payments, stablecoin utility, wallets and payments infrastructure providers, while underscoring persistent trust and security issues that could slow adoption.
Bullish
The survey indicates growing consumer acceptance and usage of crypto payments and related digital tools, especially among Gen Z — a demographic trend that supports longer-term demand for crypto payment rails, wallets, and stablecoins. Specific datapoints (28% open to receiving crypto gifts, 44% of Gen Z buying with crypto, and rising preference for digital wallets) point to increased on‑ramps and merchant payment flow that could raise transactional volume and utility for crypto assets. AI-driven shopping tools may also boost e-commerce velocity, indirectly benefiting on-chain payment solutions and wallet providers integrated into merchant checkouts. Short-term effects: modest positive sentiment for payment-related tokens and projects, increased retail interest but limited immediate price impact because adoption still partial and security concerns (66% worried about scams; 60% want data transparency) may slow conversion from interest to consistent usage. Long-term effects: as Gen Z matures and if security/transparency issues are addressed (stronger custody, clearer data practices, regulatory clarity), adoption could drive steady growth in crypto payment use-cases and stablecoin circulation — a structural bullish catalyst for tokens tied to payments and infrastructure. Comparables: prior surveys showing rising merchant acceptance or consumer interest (e.g., early NFT/crypto gift-season spikes) produced gradual, sustained interest rather than immediate price rallies; similarly, regulatory setbacks or high-profile security incidents have tempered adoption spikes in the past, so risk remains. Overall, the news is a bullish signal for crypto payments infrastructure and stablecoins but tempered by adoption frictions and security concerns.