Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty has pushed back against the way a recent public opinion poll was presented, arguing that the level of cryptocurrency ownership in the United States is far too significant to be dismissed as a minor political constituency.
His comments came after Politico described support for crypto legislation as “only 27 percent.” Alderoty countered that the same figure represents approximately 67 million American adults who already own digital assets, making crypto holders one of the country’s largest voting blocs.
Crypto Ownership Continues to Grow
Writing in an opinion article published on July 6, Alderoty pointed to findings from the National Cryptocurrency Association’s 2026 State of Crypto Holders report, which found that one in four American adults now owns cryptocurrency. That percentage aligns with the 27 percent cited in the Politico survey and equates to roughly 67 million people.
Alderoty argued that portraying such a large segment of the population as insignificant misrepresents the growing influence of digital asset owners. In his view, these millions of Americans are not asking lawmakers for special treatment but simply expect clear and effective regulation.
He also highlighted the rapid pace of adoption over the past year. According to the industry report, approximately 12 million Americans entered the crypto market during that period, increasing ownership from one in five adults to one in four. Alderoty noted that the number of new users is roughly equal to the combined populations of New York City and Los Angeles.
The report also revealed a shift in ownership demographics. Women accounted for 42 percent of new crypto holders, contributing to a 10 percent year over year increase in female participation. Alderoty said this expanding and increasingly diverse user base further strengthens the industry’s political relevance.
Survey Reflects Mixed Public Sentiment
Politico’s polling found that 45 percent of Americans believe cryptocurrencies are not worth the risk, while 25 percent said the potential rewards justify the investment. Confidence in traditional financial institutions also remained stronger, with 47 percent saying they would trust banks over crypto platforms, compared with just 9 percent who preferred digital asset services.
However, Alderoty argued that those findings should not be interpreted as widespread rejection of cryptocurrencies. He pointed out that many Americans also consider the stock market risky, emphasizing that recognizing investment risk does not necessarily mean opposing the asset class.
He further cited survey data showing that 69 percent of crypto holders trust digital assets, slightly exceeding the 65 percent who expressed confidence in the traditional banking system.
CLARITY Act Still Awaiting Progress
The debate over crypto regulation continues as lawmakers work to advance the CLARITY Act, which missed the White House’s target for approval before July 4.
The legislation was approved by the Senate Banking Committee in a 15 to 9 vote on May 14 but still requires a full Senate vote. It must also be reconciled with separate market structure legislation advanced by the Senate Agriculture Committee before a final version can move to the House of Representatives and eventually be sent to President Donald Trump for consideration.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic
