19% endorse US financial security, 5% trust decentralized platforms, Ipsos survey finds

A finding from a new Ipsos survey reveals that only 19% of Americans give strong approval to the security of the US financial system, contrasting with just 5% who express high confidence in decentralized platforms. This national study was conducted by the DeFi Education Foundation utilizing Ipsos KnowledgePanel, surveying 1,545 US adults between Sep. 8 and Sep. 16, 2026. Ipsos reported a sampling error margin of 2.8 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, based on a probability-based sample weighted to match the US adult population.

The initial findings showed that 42% placed complete or high trust in large national banks, 41% in regional or community banks, and 48% in credit unions. In the survey's query regarding institutional trust, 73% of those surveyed indicated having little or no trust in decentralized platforms that allow users to maintain command over their funds. Furthermore, the published combined figure for complete or high trust in these decentralized systems was 5%, while another 19% reported some level of trust. Among the Ipsos results, only 2% described themselves as extremely or very familiar with DeFi, compared to 9% for crypto and 5% for stablecoins. The proportion of respondents unfamiliar or not very familiar with DeFi remained at 92%, which is the same as the August 2025 survey.

For banks, the data included significant segments offering qualified trust; Ipsos noted that 36% of respondents held some trust in national banks, and 38% held some trust in regional or community banks. Conversely, the percentages reporting little or no trust were 20% and 18%, respectively. Regarding the financial services available to them, the topline tables indicated that half of the respondents were extremely or very satisfied, while 36% reported being moderately satisfied. This question encompassed payment applications, banks, and investment services. The 19% figure regarding security originated from a question asking how accurately the statement, “The current financial system in the United States is secure,” reflected respondents' viewpoints. Ipsos documented 3% answering "extremely well," 16% answering "very well," and 47% answering "somewhat well"; an additional 31% selected "not too well" or "not well at all."

The foundation's research page indicates that the percentage of Americans who have ever possessed or utilized crypto stands at 22%, an increase from 18% in 2025. However, within the underlying questionnaire, usage or ownership over the preceding 12 months remained constant at 13% across both survey waves. Among respondents with crypto experience, 34% cited curiosity as a motivation for owning or using crypto, while a quarter cited long-term investing, 18% cited short-term investing, and 8% cited a purchase or payment; respondents were permitted to select multiple reasons. Earlier polling had measured a different category of ownership; in July 2025, crypto.news had previously reported Gallup's finding that 14% of US adults owned cryptocurrency at the time of their survey. Gallup’s poll conducted from June 2–15, 2025, inquired about current ownership, whereas the new foundation headline figure incorporates both former owners and individuals who have used crypto. Gallup’s initial data showed that 4% of US adults were prospective buyers, 17% were intrigued but not planning to purchase soon, and 60% expressed no interest in buying. Their report further revealed that 35% stated they possessed some knowledge about cryptocurrency.

Privacy garnered support across several inquiries within the Ipsos investigation. Financial privacy was considered important by 74% of respondents, and 62% preferred maintaining the secrecy of their personal data during monetary transactions. The 80% figure on the research page, concerning changes that grant individuals greater control over their personal data, aggregates various levels of agreement. In the main questionnaire, 44% stated the statement represented their views "extremely well" or "very well," and 36% responded "somewhat well." Concerns about new dangers appeared in the same documentation; Ipsos determined that 63% strongly supported upgrading the financial system to counter threats like cybercrime or AI, while 54% voiced worry that financial institutions were unprepared enough to safeguard personal information from threats related to AI.

Developers have introduced privacy enhancements for existing DeFi applications. StarkWare publicized Shadow Accounts on Starknet on Oct. 13, enabling application interaction via addresses without publicly tying them to users' primary wallets. The firm stated that transactions and balances remained visible on the blockchain. When asked if they would attempt DeFi if it became accessible, 40% of Ipsos participants were at least somewhat inclined to do so, which includes 10% who were extremely or very likely. The questionnaire positioned this question following descriptions of DeFi attributes, such as data and money control, international transfers, and transaction access. Of those respondents who were at least somewhat likely to try it, 85% named saving money as a possible application, 82% mentioned sending money to relatives or friends within the US, and 82% mentioned earning interest; according to Ipsos, 24% of this group were attracted to lending or borrowing crypto tokens.

A subsequent question described proposed legislation that would mandate registration and disclosures from numerous crypto businesses, suggesting consumers would gain additional protection. Following this description, 42% were at least somewhat likely to try DeFi, while the share who were extremely or very likely remained at 10%. In a distinct policy question, Ipsos found that 35% deemed it extremely or very important for candidates to promote financial technology advancement within the US. Encouraging blockchain, crypto, and DeFi specifically received this rating from 13%. Outside the US, French authorities have put forward security requirements for DeFi platforms in reaction to the European Commission’s MiCA consultation, which was covered on Oct. 21. Their suggestions would necessitate intermediaries to evaluate protocols before granting access and to subsequently monitor vulnerabilities, assigning liability for certain failures resulting from insufficient checks or known risks.