Bitcoin’s payment use remains limited despite adoption beliefs
A recent survey from crypto mining platform GoMining reveals something interesting about how Bitcoin holders actually use their assets. Over 5,700 Bitcoin owners participated, and the results show a pretty clear pattern: most people aren’t using crypto for everyday purchases.
55% of respondents said they rarely or never use cryptocurrency for daily real-world transactions. That’s more than half. What’s perhaps more surprising is that these same people claim to believe in crypto adoption and value the privacy it offers. So there’s a disconnect between belief and action here.
Infrastructure gaps and practical barriers
The reasons people gave are pretty straightforward, I think. The biggest issue seems to be infrastructure. Nearly half of respondents—49% to be exact—said most merchants simply don’t accept crypto as payment. Mark Zalan, GoMining’s CEO, put it bluntly: “people don’t build a new habit if they have to hunt for places that accept it.”
That makes sense when you think about it. If you have to search for specific stores that take Bitcoin, you’re probably just going to use your regular payment methods instead.
Other practical barriers came up too. About 45% mentioned high fees as a problem, while 27% pointed to long transaction processing times. Bitcoin’s proof-of-work system can struggle with speed and costs, especially during busy periods. Sometimes the fees end up being more than what you’d pay with traditional methods, which defeats the purpose.
Volatility concerns and stablecoin alternatives
Price volatility was another major concern, mentioned by 43% of respondents. Bitcoin’s value can swing dramatically, sometimes within hours. That uncertainty makes people hesitant to spend it on everyday items. If you buy coffee with Bitcoin today, that same amount might be worth significantly more or less tomorrow.
This volatility issue has pushed many toward stablecoins for payments. These digital assets are pegged to traditional currencies like the US dollar, offering more price stability. Zalan noted that stablecoin settlement systems and card-style payment methods are gaining attention because they “lower friction for merchants while keeping the flow familiar.”
He added something that stuck with me: “Rewards can help people try it at first, but they only stick if fees are low and you can actually use it everywhere.”
Security worries and shifting perspectives
About 36% of respondents mentioned potential scams as a reason they avoid crypto payments. That’s not insignificant. The fear of making a mistake or falling victim to fraud is real, especially for people new to the space.
What’s interesting is Zalan’s perspective on whether crypto should be pushed more for payments. He doesn’t think so. “Trying to force that is part of the market confusion,” he said.
Instead, he sees Bitcoin playing a different role: “Bitcoin can play a payment role, often as a settlement and reserve layer that allows faster rails above it. However, there are numerous other tokens that are better viewed as utility for networks, tools for governance, or even as risks, not as money.”
That’s a more nuanced view than the “Bitcoin for everything” narrative you sometimes hear. Maybe the focus shouldn’t be on making Bitcoin work for coffee purchases, but rather on developing systems that make sense for different use cases.
The survey results paint a picture of cautious optimism mixed with practical hesitation. People believe in the technology and its potential, but they’re waiting for the infrastructure to catch up. They want lower fees, faster transactions, wider merchant acceptance, and less volatility.
Until those pieces come together more fully, it seems Bitcoin’s role as an everyday payment method will remain limited for most holders. The transition from store of value to medium of exchange is proving to be a gradual process, not a sudden shift.
