The NCA, founded with a $50 million grant from Ripple, launches education platform to amplify crypto's 'untold stories'

The National Cryptocurrency Association officially launched on Wednesday, aiming to help Americans better understand the industry via its consumer education platform.

The non-profit organization was founded by crypto firm Ripple and funded with a two-year $50 million grant, NCA's VP of Communications Ali Tager told The Block. "However, the crypto tent is big and we look forward to others joining the work of the NCA across all industries," she said, encouraging companies to reach out if they are interested in working with the initiative.

Despite being founded by Ripple, the NCA says it is not beholden to any one company, providing resources for anyone using, holding or wanting to learn more about crypto. The NCA also emphasizes that it is not a political or lobbying organization but is instead focused on supporting crypto awareness and education.

Ripple has faced some scrutiny over its lobbying efforts related to U.S. crypto policy, particularly in promoting a diversified crypto reserve, including XRP, subsequently included in President Trump's U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve announcement over the weekend. Tager declined to comment on those efforts. More details are expected at the White House's inaugural Crypto Summit on Friday, chaired by Trump's Crypto Czar David Sacks and Presidential Working Group on Crypto Executive Director Bo Hines, with numerous industry leaders expected to be in attendance.

Meanwhile, Ripple is also hopeful of a  resolution in its long-running legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission amid a slew of reported case dismissals from the agency against major crypto firms like Coinbase , Robinhood and Kraken under the new administration.

"As the crypto landscape in the U.S. continues to evolve and move towards greater understanding and adoption, we look forward to seeing additional regulatory clarity to help ensure everyday Americans are engaging with crypto responsibly and able to benefit from it as much as possible," Tager said, commenting on the general crypto regulatory landscape.

To ensure the NCA offers independent and unbiased crypto education, Tager explained that it is a registered 501(c)(4) organization accountable to the best interest of consumers rather than product revenue or profit margins. Such organizations are primarily engaged in promoting social welfare causes but can also participate in political activities, such as lobbying and advocacy, as long as politics is not their primary purpose. They are also not required to disclose donors publicly.

"To ensure we are providing neutral, well-rounded resources to help users navigate the space, we are actively listening to the community, hearing first-hand from real crypto users, engaging with experts and leaders across relevant industries, and building out an advisory board to infuse additional third-party perspectives," Tager said.

The Block reached out to Ripple for comment.

Amplifying crypto's 'untold stories'

Part of the platform's strategy is to amplify " untold stories " from the crypto world, aiming to provide an "unfiltered look" at how the industry is impacting real people's lives.

The goal is to help Americans make sense of crypto by sharing real stories of how it can benefit everyday life and by supporting the communities with the most to gain, attempting to inspire those who may have been held back by confusion or skepticism — amplified by a nationwide ad campaign, Tager said.

"Crypto has been misperceived as being just for insiders or speculative investors — we're remedying this by giving a voice to the 55 million everyday Americans already benefiting from crypto for everything from shopping online and sending money abroad to investing or creating apps, art and games," she added.

Asked about the NCA's approach in addressing the risks and volatility of the crypto market, Tager said it comes down to educating people so they can make informed decisions, which is the organization's primary objective. "When people better understand crypto, they will be better equipped to identify potential risks, and the NCA will be a resource to educate people on safe and responsible adoption along the way."

In terms of the other education resources on offer, the NCA's plans include video tutorials, written explainers and "how to" guides to demystify common crypto slang and simplify the tech in terms that everyday people can easily understand, Tager explained.

The platform also plans guidance and support services and is currently exploring national activations, local community and grassroots events and crypto coursework, with further details on industry partnerships expected in the coming months.

Surveying 10,000 U.S. crypto holders

Later this month, the NCA plans to release a U.S. crypto holder research report with insights from 10,000 respondents surveyed between January and February.

Providing some of the key takeaways from the report, Tager said the NCA found that as many as 21% of Americans could be crypto users, with 76% of holders saying crypto had positively impacted their lives — providing increased financial independence, opportunities for learning and personal growth and fun and excitement from being part of a new and innovative field.

Among other insights from the NCA's Harris Poll survey, some 73% believe it is important for the U.S. to become a global leader in the industry, with 81% excited about crypto's future for various use cases, including investments, shopping, gaming and digital collectibles. 

"These insights confirmed that crypto adoption is no longer a question of 'if' but 'when,' and as it becomes an increasingly prominent part of our daily lives, people will be faced with choices around if and how they should invest in or use crypto in other ways — this is where the NCA can help," Tager said.