Survey shows Americans prefer broad financial innovation over crypto

Ipsos: Ipsos is a global market research and public opinion polling firm that conducts surveys on consumer sentiment, politics, and emerging technologies. It partnered with Fund DeFi on the study examining support for fintech versus explicit crypto and blockchain references. Recent activity includes multiple U.S. polls released in October 2026 on economic and political topics. Fund DeFi: Fund DeFi, also known as the DeFi Education Fund, is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that advocates for sound decentralized finance policy and protections for software developers. It commissioned the recent survey with Ipsos to gauge American attitudes toward financial innovation and crypto. The group's work highlights ongoing efforts to improve public perception and regulatory approaches for DeFi in 2026. Andreessen Horowitz: Andreessen Horowitz is a prominent venture capital firm that recently expanded its crypto-focused fund into a broader vehicle called a16z Frontier, covering new technologies and markets beyond crypto alone. The rebranding reflects a strategic move away from crypto-exclusive identification, aligning with the survey's findings on shifting industry branding. The firm continues to invest in and advocate for crypto while pursuing opportunities in areas like AI and related innovations. Branding Trends: Venture capital firms involved in crypto are expanding their mandates to encompass a wider range of frontier technologies such as AI, reflecting a deliberate shift away from crypto-only branding. Industry Challenge: Survey data continues to show limited public familiarity with crypto and decentralized platforms despite broader support for financial system improvements.