PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Cryptocurrency is appearing on more holiday wish lists as gift-givers look for alternatives to traditional presents.

A new survey from the National Cryptocurrency Association and PayPal shows 24% of Americans have given or are considering giving cryptocurrency this holiday season.

The survey also found that 17% of consumers would rather receive cryptocurrency than a gift card, and 31% of Americans believe crypto gifts are less likely to go unused than gift cards.

“It’s actually a trending holiday gift, especially compared to gift cards,” said Ali Tager, a spokesperson for the NCA. “We know crypto is becoming increasingly mainstream.”

Tager said people like receiving cryptocurrency because it has the potential to increase in value.

“There’s so much you can do with this technology and it’s still in its early days,” she said.

Financial advisor Angelica Prescod said there are other investment options to consider for gift-giving.

“One of them is just gifting people something simple. Maybe some shares of some stocks that you may already have, that you are gifting over, or you can give them the cash to do so and open up their own account and feel involved in the process,” Prescod said. “For most folks [cryptocurrency] is not really the go to.”

Gift-givers can also contribute to 529 plans for college and other education expenses.

“It’s that gift that potentially can keep on giving,” Prescod said.

For those still interested in giving cryptocurrency, experts recommend doing research first.

“Like with everything, anywhere, you always want to do your research. You want to make sure to verify your sources. You never want to take financial advice from strangers or click on random links that you receive,” Tager said.

The National Cryptocurrency Association offers a crypto simulator that helps users learn how to choose an exchange, set up a wallet, and send and receive cryptocurrency without spending real money.

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