Transparency is the currency for building trust

For years, the crypto conversation has been dominated by headlines, hype, and hot takes. But ask the people who use it what would increase their trust, and a very different picture emerges. The National Cryptocurrency Association’s 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report, conducted with The Harris Poll, surveyed 10,000 American crypto holders. Nearly half (49%) said greater transparency from crypto companies would build more trust in the industry. Seeing more real stories from everyday people using crypto ranked second (42%), tied with greater integration between traditional finance and crypto. Government oversight, regulatory clarity, and industry-wide standards followed close behind. Positive media coverage and social media ranked last. That’s a striking finding for crypto and for any company introducing consumers to something new. Whether it’s AI, digital finance, or the next generation of healthcare technology, people are increasingly looking for the same things: clear information, familiar experiences, and proof that a product makes a meaningful difference in someone’s life. In other words, familiarity is becoming more powerful than persuasion. Today, 67 million Americans—roughly…