Inflation-troubled American Gen Z wants free crypto this Christmas

Nearly half of Americans now use AI tools in their holiday shopping, while interest in gifting crypto is rising sharply, according to a new Visa Holiday Spending Shift Survey released Dec. 2.

Visa found that 47% of U.S. shoppers used AI for at least one holiday task, with gift discovery ranking as the top use case.

And the crypto crossover is becoming undeniable.

Over 28% of Americans say they would be excited to receive cryptocurrency as a gift. For Gen Z, that number jumps to 45%, nearly one in two young adults.

“The data tells a fascinating story about the spending shift we're witnessing: shoppers are embracing AI and digital tools at remarkable speed, with nearly half of Americans now using AI to enhance their shopping experience,” said Bruce Cundiff, vice president of Consumer Insights at Visa.

Related: American kids to receive free $1,000 but they can’t put it in Bitcoin

Gen Z Is driving digital-first shopping and payments

Gen Z continues to lead global adoption of next-generation payment tools:

• 44% have made a purchase with cryptocurrency.
• 71% prefer biometric authentication.
• They are as likely to prefer digital wallets as physical cards (36% vs 34%).
• 60% buy gifts from overseas using global e-commerce platforms.

Visa says this marks a generational shift toward “digital-native” commerce where crypto, AI and cross-border shopping blend together.

Globally, 41% of Gen Z respondents also plan to travel more this season, boosting international digital payments.

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Inflation pressures shapes spending choices

The enthusiasm for crypto gifts comes as inflation continues to squeeze U.S. consumers, especially younger ones. 

According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, U.S. consumer prices rose 2.7% year-over-year, while the broader 12-month inflation rate sits closer to 3%.

Shelter costs, which disproportionately impact Gen Z renters, emain elevated at 3.8% year-over-year.

The combination of higher living costs and digital-native habits appears to be pushing younger shoppers toward alternative stores of value, such as Bitcoin, stablecoins and other digital assets.

Related: Exclusive: New Yorkers say 'inflation' is the real Black Friday villain

Stablecoins enter the conversation

One surprising finding.

Nearly, 1 in 10 Americans believe stablecoins will dominate by 2030, and 28% expect their usage to rise significantly by 2035.

Despite the AI boom, shoppers still want clarity:

• 61% prefer human customer service.
• 60% want transparency on how AI uses personal data.
• 66% worry about friends or family falling for online scams. 

Related: Explained: What is a stablecoin?