Gift cards had a good run-crypto might be what comes next

"Whether scrambling for a last-minute gift, looking for something belated to send after the holidays, or just thinking ahead to the next birthday on your calendar, the checkout line's gift card rack has probably crossed your mind. Coffee shops, streaming services, big box retailers. You've done this dance before. Grab one, stick it in a card, call it a day. It's easy. It's simple. It's also, for a growing number of Americans, starting to feel stale."

"Nearly one in five U.S. adults now say they'd rather receive crypto than a gift card this holiday season. That's according to a new survey from the National Cryptocurrency Association and PayPal, and it's not a number many saw coming. Gift cards have been the default for decades. They're what you buy when you don't know what else to get. But something's shifting, and it's worth paying attention to the driver."

"The case against gift cards isn't complicated. They can expire. They're tied to a single store or brand. They sit in wallets and junk drawers until someone remembers they exist, and by then, half the value might be gone to fees or fine print. Americans, on average, waste $90 in unused gift cards every year. That's not a gift; that's a slow leak."

"Crypto doesn't expire. It's not locked to a single retailer. And while it can go up or down in value, it has the potential to grow in value. For younger consumers especially, that flexibility matters. According to the survey data, 58% of buyers see the potential for value growth as a real draw. Another 54% like the flexibility and choice that crypto offers. These aren't abstract preferences; they're practical."

Nearly one in five U.S. adults now say they'd rather receive crypto than a gift card. Gift cards can expire, be tied to a single retailer, and often lose value to fees or fine print. Americans waste about $90 in unused gift cards each year. Crypto does not expire, is not locked to a single store, and can increase in value, offering flexibility and potential growth. Fifty-eight percent of buyers see potential for value growth as a draw, and 54% value the flexibility and choice crypto offers. Around 23% of shoppers planned to use crypto to purchase gifts. Younger consumers especially find crypto practical to save, invest, or spend.

Read at Fast Company