New Jersey now ranks as the second state in the U.S. for crypto adoption. The trend is fueled by educated communities and growing investor interest. The most common currencies adopted by New Jersey residents include established tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as stablecoins like Tether. Rather than resting in finance circles, crypto is being used and invested in every day.
1. Everyday Spending and Real Estate Deals
Crypto use in New Jersey is not limited to exchanges and wallets. Several small businesses today accept Bitcoin and other tokens for their normal business transactions. Helen’s Pizza in Jersey City, one of the first eateries in the state to accept Bitcoin, continues to take crypto payments. The residents of Hoboken and Newark can now use their holdings at various restaurants, coffee shops, and retail stores throughout the area.
The real estate industry has started accepting cryptocurrency payments as a new payment option. Bergen County, for example, is the state’s largest blockchain-based real estate deed digitization project in U.S. history. Partnering with blockchain company Balcony, the county is tokenizing and putting on-chain approximately 370,000 property deeds, which is approximately $240 billion in real estate value. The blockchain system promises to reduce deed processing times by more than 90% while decreasing fraud and enhancing transparency.
Additionally, some individual property sales in New Jersey accept Bitcoin as payment, reflecting growing interest in crypto use. Other New Jersey municipalities, such as Camden, Orange, Fort Lee, and Morristown, are also tokenizing deeds.
2. Entertainment and Gaming Adoption
Crypto’s role in entertainment is especially visible in New Jersey. The state operates as a leading hub for online gambling in the country, and several platforms within the state now accept Bitcoin and Ethereum payments as well as stablecoins. This includes both local and internationally licensed and regulated crypto casinos that provide players with an additional way to use their holdings.
These casinos tend to offer much faster deposits and withdrawals compared to traditional payment systems. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) plans to establish regulatory sandbox programs, which will enable authorized crypto casino operators to conduct blockchain technology testing under secure conditions.
Some concert and sports event ticket vendors in Newark and Atlantic City are now accepting cryptocurrency payments. Sports teams operating in the Tri-State region now provide digital collectibles and fan tokens, allowing fans to connect with their teams through contemporary digital systems. The Jersey City Mets baseball team, for example, has a partnership with Moomoo, a crypto and digital asset investment platform. The company plans to launch crypto investment services under its Mets brand through sponsorship deals and will display Mets branding at the stadium and promote the brand through various promotional activities.
3. Crypto ATMs
Visitors to New Jersey gas stations, convenience stores, and shopping malls will probably find crypto ATMs in their facilities. These ATMs allow users to swap cash for tokens and access their digital wallet funds. There are over 40 Bitcoin and crypto ATM locations spread across the state, including in cities like Jersey City, Atlantic City, Bloomfield, Montclair, Bayonne, Newark, and more.
The daily transaction limits for these services vary between $10,000 and $15,000 based on the service provider, supporting a range of casual users and more active traders. These crypto ATMs are especially useful for people who prefer physical, cash-based entry or exit points into cryptocurrency markets without bank involvement.
4. Blockchain in Business
Small businesses are also using blockchain technology. Smart contracts help entrepreneurs simplify agreements through their use, which reduces their legal expenses. The tokenized financing model allows businesses to obtain capital through alternative methods that bypass traditional banking restrictions. The logistics industry uses blockchain technology to develop supply chain tracking systems that improve overall reliability.
Several blockchain startups, such as EDX Markets and Nume Crypto, are based in New Jersey. These businesses and others focus on cryptocurrency investment platforms, blockchain app development, decentralized finance (DeFi), NFT projects, and enterprise blockchain infrastructure. Other companies providing blockchain services in NJ focus on developing Web3 infrastructure, blockchain games, AI integration with blockchain, decentralized applications (dApps), and enterprise solutions.
5. Policy and Education: Building the Infrastructure
New Jersey has seen growing political support for cryptocurrency as an economic and technological opportunity. Governor candidates and local leaders actively champion crypto innovation and investments, with some pledging to expose pension funds to crypto assets.
The New Jersey Innovation and Technology Alliance (NJITA) launched in 2025 to improve public understanding of blockchain and artificial intelligence. Through town halls and community outreach, the group is bringing residents, small business owners, and local leaders up to speed on digital finance.
Additionally, the state passed the Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Act, requiring crypto businesses to obtain licenses from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. The department regulates digital asset trading, custody, and storage. New Jersey has a regulatory environment encouraging everything from growth to balancing compliance and consumer protection.
At the federal level, New Jersey politicians have been active in shaping regulation. Congressman Josh Gottheimer played a role in advancing the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act, both passed in the House during 2025. These laws aim to set clear rules for the crypto market, giving consumers protection while allowing companies to operate with more certainty. For residents, the combination of education and legal structure means that crypto is becoming safer to use, whether for investing or spending in everyday life.
High Adoption Levels Across the State
New Jersey ranks second in the country for the percentage of residents owning cryptocurrency, trailing only slightly behind California. The state operates as one of the leading cryptocurrency markets throughout the United States. The ownership of real estate in Jersey City extends to both local professionals and financial workers who travel to Manhattan and Shore property owners who want banking alternatives.
The state benefits from its location near Wall Street and its combination of wealthy neighborhoods, which fuels this growth. Crypto now serves as a component of investment portfolios, combining it with traditional assets such as stocks and property holdings for numerous investors.
Despite having one of the highest adoption rates in the country, adoption is not without hesitation. Volatility remains a source of concern, while the number of scams has increased since last year.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.