A recent survey by crypto mining platform GoMining reveals that more than half of Bitcoin holders do not use their coins for real-world transactions. Over 5,700 respondents shared their experiences, highlighting challenges that prevent crypto from becoming a common payment method.
The survey showed that 55 percent of participants rarely or never use Bitcoin for daily purchases, even though many believe in crypto adoption and value its privacy features. Respondents cited several reasons behind their reluctance.
Lack of Infrastructure
The main obstacle is the limited infrastructure for accepting crypto payments. Nearly 49 percent of participants said most merchants do not accept Bitcoin. GoMining CEO Mark Zalan noted that people are unlikely to develop a habit of using crypto if they have to search extensively for places that accept it.
Other barriers include high fees, cited by 44.7 percent of respondents, and slow transaction processing, noted by 26.8 percent. Proof-of-work networks like Bitcoin often struggle with speed and cost, making traditional payment methods more convenient for everyday use.
Volatility and Scams
Price volatility also discourages crypto use, with 43 percent of respondents citing this as a reason to avoid daily payments. Many users prefer stablecoins for transactions because they provide predictable value and faster settlement. Zalan highlighted that systems combining stablecoins with card-style interfaces can reduce friction for merchants and make payments feel familiar to consumers.
Security concerns also play a role, as 36.2 percent of respondents said the risk of scams prevents them from using crypto for routine purchases.
When asked whether Bitcoin should be pushed as a payment method, Zalan expressed caution. He said that Bitcoin can function as a settlement or reserve layer for faster payment systems above it, but other tokens may be better suited for governance, network utility, or specialized use cases rather than as money.
