The US crypto sector directly employs 34,000 people and adds $55 billion to the national economy in 2026, according to a new report commissioned by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) and produced by the Pragmatic Policy Group (PPG). Those numbers put crypto ahead of some surprisingly familiar industries.
How the headcount stacks up
Coffee and tea manufacturing supports 28,400 direct workers. Crypto's 34,000 already beats that. The gap grows wider against other benchmarks:
- Cement manufacturing: 15,300 workers
- Tobacco manufacturing: 10,600 workers
Pay is another striking data point. The average crypto-related job pays $133,000 a year, more than double the national median of $64,000. The report places that figure above both information and technology at $104,000 and manufacturing at $76,000. Of the $55 billion total economic contribution, roughly $31 billion flows directly to worker income.
The ripple effect across the broader economy
Each direct crypto job supports six more positions elsewhere in the economy. Add up direct, indirect, and induced employment and the total reaches 232,000 supported jobs in 2026. Supplier industries account for 75,000 of those roles, while spending by crypto workers generates another 123,000.
Geography matters here. California, New York, and Texas together hold 60% of all US crypto jobs, with Washington and North Carolina rounding out the top five states. Still, heartland states collectively account for more than 17,000 positions, so the footprint is not purely a coastal story.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or an investment recommendation.
