Crypto industry to add $55 B and support 232,000 jobs

A new economic analysis projects the cryptocurrency industry will contribute more than $55 billion to the U.S. economy and support 232,000 jobs in 2026, according to a report released this week. The study, commissioned by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) and conducted by Pragmatic Policy Group, estimates that crypto companies directly employ 34,000 people, with the broader total accounting for jobs supported through supplier industries and worker spending.

The report, which uses economic modeling based on 2024 federal data, projects the industry's total economic contribution will include approximately $31 billion in worker income. Within direct employment, software, blockchain, and data engineering form the largest occupational group with about 10,100 roles. Compliance, finance, and business operations account for another 5,450 positions, while executives and managers make up about 5,100.

The analysis compares the direct crypto workforce to several traditional industries, noting it exceeds the Bureau of Labor Statistics figures for coffee and tea manufacturing (28,400 jobs), cement manufacturing (15,300), and tobacco manufacturing (10,600). The broader supported...