Cryptocurrency stereotypes linger from its black market origins, but purchases nowadays may not be as unlawful as people believe.
What people believe cryptocurrency is used to purchase strongly differs from what is actually purchased with cryptocurrency, according to new survey data from Visual Objects, a portfolio website.
Visual Objects surveyed 983 people familiar with digital currency about how they use and perceive it, including 157 cryptocurrency owners.
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People believe that cryptocurrency is primarily used to purchase stocks (40%) and illegal items (30%). Fewer than one-fifth believe it’s mainly used to purchase clothing (15%) or food (14%).
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In comparison, cryptocurrency owners say they most frequently purchase food (38%) and clothing (34%) with the currency, followed by stocks (29%).
Though it’s impossible to know exactly how many illegal cryptocurrency transactions are happening, the data suggests that cryptocurrency is used for everyday purchases more than the general public believes.
Cryptocurrency Began on the Black Market but Can Now Lead to Positive Change
The first cryptocurrency, bitcoin, initially grew popular on the black market. Now, though, larger businesses are beginning to accept it as a form of payment:
- Microsoft accepts bitcoin as payment in its Xbox store
- Overstock currently accepts and holds multiple forms of cryptocurrency
- KFC Canada accepts bitcoin as payment for food
- Expedia accepts bitcoin to purchase flights and other forms of travel
Microsoft Founder Bill Gates even sees cryptocurrency as a means of achieving income equality.
“If we were building a financial system from scratch today, we’d do it on a digital platform,” Gates said. “Digital can lower the cost of a range of transactions by as much as 90%, providing nearly universal access to innovative financial products and services.”
In the past, though, Gates has also strongly denounced cryptocurrency, given its anonymity.
Overall, only 16% of people familiar with cryptocurrency have actually invested in it, indicating that cryptocurrency’s stereotypes may be impacting its adoption potential.
Bitcoin Is Most Widely Owned Cryptocurrency
The first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, is still the most popular. Nearly three-quarters of cryptocurrency owners surveyed (70%) say they own bitcoin.
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