Cryptocurrency payment acceptance among U.S. small businesses has climbed to 19% in 2026, recovering from a sharp decline the previous year, according to J.D. Power’s latest merchant services study released Tuesday.

The uptick represents a four percentage point increase from 2025, when acceptance dropped to 15% from 20% in the 2024 report. While the 2026 figure almost matches 2024 levels, the recovery coincides with improved merchant sentiment: 37% now hold a favorable view of cryptocurrency, and one third of non-accepting merchants say they would likely accept crypto payments if their provider enabled the option.

“More press and political support in recent months have…