Only 19% of Americans Trust the US Financial System
Growing skepticism toward traditional banking drives interest in decentralized alternatives despite significant knowledge gaps.
1Widespread Financial System Distrust
Only 19% of Americans currently view the national financial system as secure. A significant 63% of respondents advocate for systemic updates to counter emerging threats, particularly those linked to artificial intelligence. Furthermore, 54% express deep concern regarding the ability of financial institutions to protect personal data from sophisticated AI-driven security risks.
2Demand for Financial Autonomy
The survey highlights a strong desire for greater control over personal assets. Approximately 80% of Americans believe the financial system must change to empower individual data sovereignty. Additionally, 66% of respondents demand 24/7 access to their funds, while 74% emphasize that financial privacy remains a critical priority for their daily operations.
3Institutional Trust Remains Fragile
Confidence in traditional banking institutions is notably low, with only 7% of Americans fully trusting local or regional banks. While large national banks retain 42% trust and credit unions hold 48%, these figures reflect a declining trend. Conversely, trust in crypto exchanges and decentralized platforms remains minimal, hovering between 4% and 5%.
4Crypto Adoption Trends Stagnate
While the total percentage of Americans who have ever used cryptocurrencies rose from 18% to 22% over the past year, active usage remains flat at 13%. This suggests that growth is driven by historical users rather than new entrants. Intent to use crypto in the future has also remained stagnant at 17%.
5The DeFi Knowledge Gap
Despite growing interest, technical literacy regarding decentralized finance is extremely low. Only 2% of respondents claim to be well-informed about DeFi, and just 6% could correctly identify all four core characteristics of cryptocurrencies. A substantial 35% of participants admitted they were unsure how to describe or define digital assets at all.
6Potential Use Cases for DeFi
Interest in DeFi utility is rising among those willing to experiment with the technology. About 85% of potential users would utilize these services for savings, while 82% would use them for peer-to-peer transfers. These figures show a marked increase from 2025, indicating a clear preference for specific functional financial applications.
7Demographics and Political Alignment
Crypto engagement shows surprising parity across political lines, with 24% of Republicans and 21% of Democrats reporting prior experience. However, crypto remains a low political priority, as voters prioritize the cost of living and general economic health. Men are significantly more likely to have used crypto recently, at 18% versus 8% for women.
8Future Outlook and Methodology
The DeFi Education Fund survey included 1545 adults with a 2.8% margin of error. While interest in learning about stablecoins and DeFi has actually declined, the underlying demand for privacy and control persists. Policymakers face a public that is increasingly skeptical of traditional infrastructure but remains hesitant to fully embrace decentralized alternatives.
Original article: INCRYPTED — Only 19% of Americans Trust the US Financial System