If you’re a freelancer or a small business owner, you know how difficult it can be to keep all the balls in the air — especially regarding money.
Between inconsistent cash flow, delayed contractor payments, rising transaction costs, and customers who want more payment options, keeping your business afloat can be difficult.
That’s why a growing number of independent contractors and small businesses are turning to cryptocurrency for help. It’s fast, secure, borderless, and available 24/7 — no delays, and no intermediaries taking a cut along the way.
According to the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), 67 million, or 1 in 4 Americans, now hold cryptocurrency, and they’re not just using it to invest and build wealth. Many use it for day-to-day activities like shopping for goods and services (40%), with 20% doing so weekly.
With that in mind, here’s how crypto can be useful in running your business:
Accepting customer payments
Just as many businesses added contactless payments in recent years, some are now adding crypto as another checkout option. Giving your customers another payment choice, especially in e-commerce, can broaden your customer base to include those who prefer to pay with crypto.
Crypto at checkout is already widespread. NCA’s 2026 State of Crypto Holders report found that 40% of holders are already using it to purchase goods and services, and its 2026 Merchant Adoption Report highlights 50% of large U.S. enterprises and one-third of small and medium businesses already accept crypto as a form of payment.
Ali Tager
Vice President of External Affairs, National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA)
“Offering crypto at checkout doesn’t mean replacing traditional payment methods — rather, it’s an extension of consumer choice, giving people options to pay with the methods they’re most comfortable with,” said Ali Tager, VP of External Affairs at NCA. “For businesses, it’s about meeting customers where they already are, and for shoppers, it’s the freedom to decide what works best for their lives and wallets.”
Paying freelancers and contractors
Customer transactions are only part of the equation. If you’re a small business owner, you also have to pay your freelancers, vendors, and contractors.
Using crypto to pay people you work with is easy. Payments arrive in minutes and there are fewer fees, so contractors get to keep more of what they earn, and crypto payments work globally.
“Crypto has the incredible power to be able to work with creators and creatives, no matter where they are, who they are, or what situation they may be in, where it’s sustainable, equitable, and fast,” Hunter, a content creator who turned to crypto payments for his editors during the pandemic, told NCA. “Crypto is a great leveler of class and offers the ability for anyone to be paid what they’re worth and what they deserve.”
Hunter’s experience isn’t an outlier. NCA’s recent Crypto at Work report found that professional services account for $3.6 billion of the industry’s $55 billion U.S. economic contribution, or roughly 1 in 15 dollars. This illustrates crypto’s growing relevance beyond traders and financial technology experts and into everyday workers, like consultants, freelancers, and other independent professionals.
Managing cash flow and payment flexibility
Delayed payments, limited pay options, and weekend bank closures can make it difficult for any entrepreneur to run their day-to-day operations.
When moving funds, crypto offers greater flexibility. For example, a business that accepts digital asset payments from customers can choose to use the same method to pay a contractor or vendor, instead of converting between multiple payment systems. In some cases, this can help streamline transactions and reduce friction.
“Crypto inherently gives me so much more autonomy over my own life and own finances,” Jake, a small business owner, told NCA.
The right approach depends on the needs of the business, its customers, and available payment options.
Learn before you use
There’s a lot of hype and confusion around cryptocurrency, and that’s why education is so important.
The National Cryptocurrency Association can help you make sense of crypto and show you how to put it to work as a trusted tool in your business. Through real stories from small business owners and freelancers, the NCA can show you how crypto fits into everyday operations.
Understanding practical use cases is the first step to making an informed decision about whether crypto is right for you and your business.
