According to Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, cryptocurrency is becoming more and more common in American finance. He points to a recent report from the National Cryptocurrency Association – where he also serves as president – showing that 67 million Americans now use or own digital assets. Speaking with the NYSE, Alderoty explained that crypto is less about creating a separate financial system and more about slowly incorporating digital assets into things like daily payments, investments, and how companies manage their finances.
According to Alderoty, Ripple is helping to change how businesses use cryptocurrency, largely because it focuses on serving larger companies. Ripple provides the tools and services these businesses need – like payment processing, secure storage, token creation, and managing funds – to integrate crypto into their operations. He explained that Ripple has become a single source for companies looking to adopt cryptocurrency solutions.
Ripple CLO Says Crypto Has Hit Mainstream America
The main point of discussion revolved around the NCA’s recent report on crypto holders. According to Alderoty, the NCA worked with Harris Poll for the second year to survey 40,000 Americans – a very large number of participants for a study like this.
According to Alderoty, 67 million people in the U.S. currently own or use cryptocurrency. This shows that crypto is becoming more widely adopted and is moving beyond being a specialized interest.
A recent report shows that 12 million more Americans have joined the cryptocurrency world in the past year. According to the 2026 State of Crypto Holder report, this growth isn’t limited to the typical image of early crypto adopters – like tech experts or financial professionals. It’s happening across a much broader range of people, according to Alderoty.
He explained that growth wasn’t limited to one group, but was happening across different demographics. “We’re seeing growth from women, construction workers, and people in manufacturing,” Alderoty noted.
For Ripple CLO, this is important because it indicates that cryptocurrency adoption is becoming more widespread, rather than limited to specific regions or groups. They point to data on the National Cryptocurrency Association’s website, which includes a map showing the location of crypto holders across the U.S., broken down by state and even congressional district. This data suggests that crypto ownership isn’t just concentrated in major tech or financial centers, but is spread throughout the country.
Alderoty also connected the growing popularity of crypto to the increasing connections between traditional finance and the digital asset world. He explained that people no longer have to choose between crypto and traditional banking. Instead, the two are starting to combine within the financial apps and services people already use.
As a researcher observing the financial landscape, it’s becoming clear it’s not a question of choosing between crypto and traditional finance. It’s both. We’re moving towards a world where these two systems aren’t separate, but work together – becoming increasingly interchangeable and able to connect with each other seamlessly.
He believes seamless compatibility between different systems will be key to wider adoption going forward. Alderoty likened this shift to the move to smartphones, explaining that people didn’t suddenly stop using flip phones overnight. Instead, the change happened gradually as the new technology became practical and integrated into everyday life.
He believes cryptocurrency could become more mainstream as traditional financial companies start offering digital assets through familiar products. This would mean people could use crypto without even realizing it – it would simply be another payment option alongside existing methods.
Alderoty explained that he’ll be able to pay at Walmart using the OnePay app at the checkout. The app will let him choose how he wants to pay – with cash, debit card, credit card, or even cryptocurrency – and the entire process will happen automatically in the background.
According to a Ripple executive, using cryptocurrency for payments shouldn’t require any special declaration. The goal is to make it as easy and automatic as using contactless payment methods like Apple Pay.
The NCA report also looked at how different age groups were adopting crypto. According to Alderoty, 18% of new crypto owners are between 18 and 24 years old, and 28% are over 55. This shows a broad range of generations getting involved. Younger users are growing up with crypto as a normal part of the financial landscape, and even older users are starting to embrace the technology instead of staying on the sidelines.
According to Alderoty, the cryptocurrency industry is still in its early stages, being only about 15 years old. However, he believes that younger generations – Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X – will gradually begin to view crypto as a standard financial tool.
He believes future generations will only know a world where cryptocurrency is a standard part of the financial system.
At press time, XRP traded at $1.32.
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2026-05-29 15:12