Ripple Legal Chief Challenges 'Crypto Is Useless' Narrative as US Usage Continues Climbing

Ripple’s chief legal officer is challenging claims that cryptocurrency lacks real-world utility, pointing to rising U.S. merchant adoption and growing consumer reliance as evidence that digital assets are becoming embedded in everyday commerce.

Ripple’s Legal Chief Challenges Media Narrative on Crypto Utility

Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty, who also serves as President of the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), shared on social media platform X on Feb. 27 that he has repeatedly pushed back against claims that crypto lacks utility as U.S. usage continues climbing.

Referring to the New York Times (NYT), he said:

“As President of the National Cryptocurrency Association, I have submitted numerous letters and opinion pieces to the NYT to counter their lazy and outdated narrative that crypto is useless. All have been ignored.”

Alderoty added, “It’s dangerously irresponsible to dismiss the millions of real Americans relying on crypto today to make their lives better.” He also wrote, “Want the facts and clear, accessible information about crypto? NCA is here to help.” The remarks directly challenge what he characterizes as persistent skepticism from major media outlets toward the digital asset sector.

Supporting that position, the National Cryptocurrency Association’s January 2026 “ Crypto in America: Merchant Adoption” report, conducted in partnership with Paypal, outlines survey-based growth in crypto payments across the United States. The survey of 619 U.S. payment decision-makers, conducted by The Harris Poll, found that 39% of merchants surveyed say they already accept crypto at checkout, rising to 50% among large enterprises. Among those respondents who accept digital assets, crypto represents 26% of total sales on average, and 72% reported an increase in crypto transactions over the past year.

Looking ahead, 84% of merchants expect crypto to become a common payment method within five years, while 90% indicated they would be likely to adopt it if integration were as simple as credit cards. Together, the findings suggest expanding commercial acceptance of bitcoin, ethereum, and other digital assets, reinforcing arguments that crypto use cases are gaining traction in everyday commerce.

FAQ 🧭

• Why is Ripple’s legal chief publicly challenging media narratives on crypto utility?

Stuart Alderoty argues that rising real-world adoption and merchant usage contradict claims that crypto lacks practical value.

• What does the latest merchant survey reveal about crypto payment adoption?

The NCA and Paypal-backed survey shows a growing share of U.S. merchants accepting crypto, with digital assets representing a meaningful portion of sales.

• How significant is crypto revenue for merchants already accepting it?

Merchants that accept crypto report it accounts for a notable percentage of total sales and transaction growth year over year.

• What do merchant expectations signal about crypto’s investment outlook?

Strong expectations for mainstream payment adoption suggest expanding commercial use cases that could support long-term digital asset growth.