Ripple Legal Chief Challenges ‘Crypto Is Useless’ Narrative as US Usage Continues Climbing

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Stuart Alderoty, the ever-eloquent legal mind of Ripple, is once again going toe-to-toe with the world’s most persistent narrative: that cryptocurrency is, quite simply, a digital fantasy with no real-world legs to stand on. But the numbers, oh, the numbers, tell a much different story, don’t they?

Ripple’s Legal Chief Pokes Fun at the ‘Crypto Is Useless’ Narrative

Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer and president of the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), took to social media on February 27 to, in his own inimitable style, rip apart the lazy claims that cryptocurrency is nothing but a glorified Ponzi scheme. This, despite the ever-growing numbers of U.S. merchants who seem to be terribly misguided about what’s “useless.”

He took particular umbrage with the New York Times (NYT), claiming:

“As President of the National Cryptocurrency Association, I have submitted numerous letters and opinion pieces to the NYT to counter their lazy and outdated narrative that crypto is useless. All have been ignored.”

It’s safe to say, Mr. Alderoty’s patience with mainstream skepticism has been wearing thin. In his opinion, dismissing crypto is “dangerously irresponsible,” especially when millions of “real Americans” are relying on it to live their day-to-day lives. The nerve of some people, right?

His remarks were a direct jab at major media outlets, who, in his words, have persistently disregarded the growing evidence that digital assets are, in fact, becoming quite the little mainstay in everyday commerce. It’s a real shame when some media outlets just can’t be bothered to read the writing on the blockchain.

But wait, the plot thickens. To back up his position, Alderoty pointed to a report from the NCA and Paypal, released in January 2026, titled “Crypto in America: Merchant Adoption.” The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, was a definitive slap in the face to anyone still clinging to the idea that crypto is just a passing phase.

The findings are clear: 39% of U.S. merchants already accept crypto at checkout. And that number balloons to 50% among large enterprises. If that doesn’t scream “useful,” what does? Among the brave souls who have embraced digital currencies, crypto accounts for a sizable 26% of total sales, and a whopping 72% have reported an increase in crypto transactions over the past year. Oh, and did we mention the future? 84% of merchants believe that crypto will be as common as credit cards within five years. So, there’s that.

FAQ 🧭

  • Why is Ripple’s legal chief publicly challenging media narratives on crypto utility?
    Stuart Alderoty argues that the overwhelming evidence of real-world adoption and merchant usage disproves claims that crypto has no practical value.
  • What does the latest merchant survey reveal about crypto payment adoption?
    The NCA and Paypal-backed survey shows that more U.S. merchants are jumping on the crypto bandwagon, and these digital assets now account for a meaningful chunk of their sales.
  • How significant is crypto revenue for merchants already accepting it?
    For those who’ve embraced the crypto revolution, it’s no small matter. These merchants are reporting that digital currencies are a major contributor to their bottom line.
  • What do merchant expectations signal about crypto’s investment outlook?
    With 90% of merchants stating they’d adopt crypto if it were as easy as using credit cards, the future of digital assets looks bright-whether the skeptics like it or not.

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2026-02-28 05:27