With approximately 17% of the US population investing in cryptocurrency, the ways in which it is used are changing, and many industries are beginning to accept these digital currencies. Here is an overview of key sectors supporting this shift.
Gaming Industry
Cryptocurrencies made their first entry into gaming around 2017. Since then, the popularity of crypto games has significantly increased, allowing users to earn cryptocurrency rewards while playing. Projects like **Axie Infinity** and **Gods Unchained** have attracted millions of transactions. These games have been particularly responsive to crypto integration, with in-game items such as cosmetics being well-suited to tokenization and trading. Significant transactions include: - The **Angel Axie** from Axie Infinity sold for **300 ETH** (approximately **$822,000**). - The **Hyperion card** in Gods Unchained sold for **137 ETH** (around **$375,000**).
Luxury Goods
Cryptocurrency spending is transforming the luxury goods industry, as leading brands begin to accept crypto payments and offer exclusive products available only through cryptocurrency transactions. Brands include: - **Gucci** – partnered with BitPay in 2022, allowing payments with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin at select US boutiques. - **Louis Vuitton** - **Tag Heuer**. Brands like **Adidas** have also released NFT collections entitling holders to physical merchandise.
Art and Collectibles (NFTs)
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are unique digital items stored on the blockchain, providing provable ownership. Examples of NFTs include: - **Top Shots** – NBA highlight videos turned into NFTs. - **Damien Hirst’s** collection, “The Currency.” NFT interest surged dramatically, with searches for “NFT” in the US rising from **2,988** in December 2020 to **3,855,099** in January 2022.
In 2025, cryptocurrency continues to find its place across various sectors, from gaming to real estate, opening up new horizons for users and businesses.
