Survey: Stablecoins appear in 88% of U.S. crypto portfolios
88% of U.S. crypto holders include stablecoins in their portfolios, showcasing the widespread adoption of these assets.
70% of respondents believe stablecoins unlock new financial opportunities or efficiencies that they could not access in the traditional financial system.
Stablecoin allocation skews conservative, with 33% of our respondents holding less than 10% of their portfolio in stablecoin assets.
Experienced investors are 67% more likely than less experienced investors to use stablecoins for arbitrage — a strategy that leverages price inefficiencies between trading platforms and markets. This highlights their potential for more strategic, advanced trading.
72% of crypto holders expect stablecoin use to grow over the next five years, with 22% anticipating significant expansion.
Stablecoins: Bridging TradFi and crypto 🤝
Stablecoins are carving out their own essential space in the crypto world. While major coins like Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH) are known for their volatility, stablecoins are designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to traditional, government issued currencies, like the U.S. dollar.
Many of the largest stablecoins, such as Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC) and Global Dollar (USDG) derived their value by holding an equivalent value of a traditional fiat currency, such as the U.S. dollar, in reserve.
This helps to ensure that every stablecoin in circulation is backed by an equivalent amount of the asset it represents.
Stablecoins offer a critical bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance, making them an important tool for transacting and storing value.
As U.S. legislators aim to develop sound regulatory frameworks that facilitate innovation and protect investors, stablecoins are at the forefront of these conversations. To find out more about peoples’ sentiment towards and usage of stablecoins we surveyed more than 800 U.S. crypto holders to learn more about how they approach this new frontier.
Our data revealed that 88% of respondents currently hold stablecoins, with investing decisions and allocations fluctuating depending on how much experience they have in the crypto space.
Stablecoins as strategic tools: 70% see untapped financial potential 💪
A strong majority of our survey respondents believe stablecoins unlock new efficiencies or opportunities. This enthusiasm underscores the growing recognition of stablecoins as a tool for financial access, efficiency and innovation.
Over a quarter (28%) said stablecoins provide access to financial opportunities they would not have otherwise, while 42% felt that stablecoins offer similar opportunities to those available through TradFi.
Our survey also reveals significant variation in how investors allocate stablecoins within their portfolios, reflecting diverse strategies and risk appetites. Here’s a closer look at the allocation ranges:
- Less than 10% of portfolio in stablecoins – 33%
- 10-25% of portfolio in stablecoins – 25%
- 26-50% of portfolio in stablecoins – 21%
- More than 50% of portfolio in stablecoins – 9%
- Do not hold any stablecoins – 12%
Investors hold stablecoins for various reasons, including locking in prices during periods of market volatility, maintaining liquidity for quick trades, and accessing DeFi opportunities such as yield farming and lending.
In general, holding a significant portion of your portfolio in stablecoins could limit potential gains from other crypto assets during bull markets. Keep in mind that optimal allocation could vary depending on the investor's individual portfolios and goals.
As stablecoins continue to mature, long-term adoption will likely depend on issuers proving their reliability through robust reserves, transparent operations and regulatory clarity — key elements that could shape the future of stablecoin trust and usage.
Crypto paradox: U.S. investors balance memecoin mania with stablecoin stability
While stablecoins play a role in the majority of U.S. crypto portfolios, our recent memecoin survey also found the vast majority of U.S. crypto holders (85%) hold memecoins.
Stablecoins are seen by many as a sort of safe haven, enabling investors to move in and out of riskier assets more easily, while memecoins like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) thrive on hype and speculation.
This dual approach highlights a trend that regulators and traditional financial institutions are likely watching closely: Crypto investors are increasingly embracing both high-risk opportunities and cautious hedging.
However, crypto holders seem to recognize that, from regulatory uncertainty to depegging events, stablecoins are still growing to be a more embedded part of the broader financial system.
When choosing which stablecoin to purchase, our data shows that a variety of factors influence peoples’ trust in a given asset:
- Collateral backing (42%)
- Transparency of reserves/audits (40%)
- Regulation and government oversight (30%)
- Reputation of the issuing entity (34%)
- Market adoption and usage (25%)
This data highlights that while stablecoins overall are widely seen as valuable, trust in specific stablecoins themselves is not automatic. Our findings could signal a more discerning and informed investor base — one that realizes that not all stablecoins are created equal despite the notable advantages they offer.
Building on this cautious optimism, crypto holders are incorporating stablecoins into their investment strategies in various ways. For instance, over a quarter (26%) reported that they primarily use stablecoins as a savings tool. Additionally, 18% said they use them to earn interest through crypto platforms, and 12% leverage stablecoins to take advantage of price differences across exchanges.
Their potential as a hedge against market volatility (11%) and a means for cross-border transactions (7%) further underscores the versatility and importance of stablecoins.
Less experienced investors play it safe — pros use stablecoins for gains ⚖️
Our survey finds that as investors integrate stablecoins into various facets of their strategy, both caution and ambition are reflected in their strategies. This balance is particularly evident among more experienced crypto investors compared to those with less experience.
- More experienced investors: Those with 3 to 5 years of crypto investing experience.
- Less experienced investors: Those with 2 years of crypto investing experience or less.
Our survey found respondents with more crypto investing experience are nearly twice as likely to use stablecoins for hedging against volatility than less experienced crypto investors. These experienced investors are also 67% more likely to capitalize on arbitrage opportunities with stablecoins than less experienced investors.
Simply put, using stablecoins to capture market inefficiencies can help traders capture arbitrage opportunities that arise from price differences across trading platforms.
Nearly half (45%) of our less-experienced respondents distributed less than 10% of their portfolio to stablecoins. In contrast, 23% of more seasoned investors reported allocating less than 10% to stablecoins, and 30% reported allocating between 26% and 50% of their portfolio to stablecoins.
This suggests that as investors gain experience, they become more comfortable with integrating stablecoins into their crypto strategy. Specifically, they learn to use stablecoins as a key tool to lock in potential upside gains, while also using stablecoins to help in managing downside risks.
72% expect stablecoin growth, but key factors could accelerate adoption 📊
Stablecoins are poised to play an important role in the evolution of crypto adoption. Nearly half (47%) of our respondents believe that stablecoins will help accelerate the adoption of crypto in the years to come.
While some uncertainty remains, our data suggests crypto holders generally feel optimistic about the potential for greater stablecoin adoption. The majority (72%) believe stablecoin use will grow over the next five years, with 22% expecting “significant” expansion and 50% anticipating at least some expansion.
However, several factors could influence the pace of this growth. Respondents indicated they would be more likely to increase their stablecoin usage if the following conditions are met:
- Higher interest rates on stablecoin savings (43%)
- Better security measures (37%)
- More places accepting them for payments (37%)
- Easier ways to convert to and from fiat (36%)
- More regulatory clarity (31%)
Addressing these needs could be key to cementing stablecoins as a mainstream financial tool, rather than just a niche asset within the crypto space.
As stablecoin infrastructure continues to develop, the coming years will determine whether they truly fulfill their promise as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets. If innovation aligns with user demands, stablecoins could become an essential gateway for the next wave of crypto adoption.
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Methodology 🧑💻
We partnered with SurveyMonkey Audience to survey U.S. residents over 18 years old. The survey was completed on February 3, 2025. All survey questions focused specifically on U.S. cryptocurrency holders, resulting in a targeted sample of 813 respondents. Results with this sample have a 95% confidence level and a +/- 3% margin of error.
Data including U.S. crypto holders with less than 2 years of crypto investing experience has a 90% confidence level and a +/- 5% margin of error. Data featuring U.S. crypto holders with 3-5 years of crypto investing experience has a 90% confidence level and a +/- 4% margin of error.
Although the term "stablecoin" is commonly used, there is no guarantee that the asset will maintain a stable value in relation to the value of the reference asset when traded on secondary markets or that the reserve of assets, if there is one, will be adequate to satisfy all redemptions.