Crypto Now Employs More Americans Than Coffee or Tobacco Manufacturing Industries

The crypto industry directly supports 34,000 jobs and contributes $55 billion to the US economy in 2026.

The findings come from a new report by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), which commissioned the study from the Pragmatic Policy Group (PPG). 

How Crypto Jobs Stack Up

To put that headcount in context, the report measured it against familiar industries. Crypto’s 34,000 direct workers now outnumber coffee and tea manufacturing, which supports 28,400.

Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens

The gap widens against other benchmarks. Crypto tops both cement manufacturing at 15,300 and tobacco manufacturing at 10,600.

The report also puts the average crypto-related job at $133,000 a year, more than double the national median of $64,000.

It ranks that average above other high-paying fields, listing information and technology at $104,000 and manufacturing at $76,000. In addition, of the $55 billion total economic contribution, roughly $31 billion is worker income.

The Wider Economic Footprint

The report also estimates indirect effects. It finds that each direct crypto job supports 6 more across the economy. That brings total supported employment to 232,000 jobs in 2026.

The total figure accounts for direct, indirect, and induced jobs, not just crypto company payrolls. Supplier industries account for 75,000 roles, while worker spending adds another 123,000.

The distribution is uneven. California, New York, and Texas hold 60% of US crypto jobs, followed by Washington and North Carolina. Heartland states account for more than 17,000 positions.

Overall, crypto’s economic weight now extends well beyond trading, reaching into wages, supplier industries, and household spending across the country.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch leaders and journalists provide expert insights