CFOs at Billion-Dollar Firms Are Betting on Crypto: Deloitte Survey Unpacks the Trend

A groundbreaking shift is underway in corporate finance as Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) at North American companies with revenues exceeding $1 billion signal a growing willingness to embrace cryptocurrency. According to a recent Deloitte survey, the tide is turning, with digital assets poised to become a serious part of treasury operations for many of these financial giants.

• Adoption on the Horizon: 23% of CFOs plan to integrate crypto for payments or investments within the next two years.
• Big Players Step Up: 40% of CFOs at firms with over $10 billion in revenue expect crypto to be part of their finance strategy by 2027.
• Stablecoins as the Gateway: 15% are eyeing stablecoins for payments, while Bitcoin and Ethereum attract attention for growth potential.

Survey Highlights: A Turning Point for Corporate Crypto

Deloitte’s North American CFO Signals survey, conducted between June 4-18, 2025, polled 200 CFOs from companies generating over $1 billion in annual revenue. The results of this survey are striking: nearly a quarter of these financial leaders are gearing up to adopt cryptocurrencies for payments or investments within the next 24 months. For the largest firms—those surpassing $10 billion in revenue—the enthusiasm is even stronger, with 40% anticipating digital assets as a core component of their financial operations by 2027. Perhaps most telling is that only 1% of respondents outright dismiss the idea of crypto adoption in the long term. This near-universal openness suggests that even the most cautious firms are keeping the door ajar for blockchain-based solutions.

John Goff, Senior Manager at Deloitte and editor of CFO Signals, frames this as a potential “tipping point” for corporate acceptance of digital assets. Historically, billion-dollar companies have approached crypto with skepticism, deterred by wild price swings and murky regulations. Yet, with pioneers like MicroStrategy and Tesla already holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets, the Deloitte data indicates a broader wave of mainstream interest may be imminent, as highlighted in recent reports on financial officers’ growing interest.

Roadblocks to Adoption: Volatility, Rules, and Red Tape

Before we start engraving Bitcoin logos on corporate letterheads, let’s face the gritty reality. These CFOs aren’t diving in blindly—there are significant hurdles in their path. A whopping 43% of respondents point to price volatility as their primary concern. Bitcoin, for instance, surged 90% over the past year but also saw a gut-wrenching 28% drop in just 10 weeks during early 2025. That kind of rollercoaster ride—even for a thrill-seeking financial officer—can induce some serious cold feet.

Accounting complexities are another sticking point, flagged by 42% of CFOs. Crypto doesn’t neatly fit into traditional financial frameworks like GAAP or IFRS. Is Bitcoin an asset, a currency, or something else entirely when its value can shift by thousands of dollars overnight? Tax reporting for crypto transactions is equally nightmarish, often requiring specialized software or consultants just to keep up. Then there’s regulatory uncertainty, worrying 40% of respondents. The global patchwork of rules—or lack thereof—means a firm could be compliant in one country and a regulatory pariah in another. These aren’t trivial speed bumps; they’re fundamental challenges that could stall even the most bullish adopters, with some insights on these challenges explored in discussions around crypto regulations impacting corporate finance.

Stablecoins as the Safe Bet for Business Payments

Amid the chaos of price swings, stablecoins are emerging as the sensible entry point for corporate crypto. These digital assets, typically pegged to fiat currencies like the US dollar, aim to maintain a steady value through reserves of cash or other assets. About 15% of CFOs plan to use stablecoins for payments within two years, with the figure climbing to 24% among the largest firms. Their appeal is straightforward: predictability. Unlike Bitcoin’s wild fluctuations, stablecoins offer stability, making them ideal for practical uses like cross-border transactions—cited as a benefit by 39% of respondents—or even protecting customer privacy, noted by 45%. This growing interest is further discussed in online forums like why CFOs are drawn to stablecoins for payments.

Yet, stablecoins aren’t without their skeletons. Past controversies, like ongoing debates over Tether’s reserve transparency, raise questions about whether these assets are as “stable” as they claim. If audits reveal insufficient backing, corporate reliance on stablecoins could backfire spectacularly. For now, though, they’re seen as the less risky bridge into the crypto realm, especially for firms wary of Bitcoin’s thrill ride, as evidenced by community debates on corporate adoption of stablecoins and Bitcoin.

Bitcoin and Ethereum: High Risk, High Reward

While stablecoins play the safe card, non-stable cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are drawing interest for their growth potential. About 15% of CFOs intend to invest in these assets within the next two years, with 24% expecting to add them to their portfolios in the coming years. Bitcoin’s allure is its raw capital appreciation—despite the dips, that 90% yearly surge outpaces most traditional investments like Treasuries. Often dubbed “digital gold,” it’s increasingly viewed as a store of value, a hedge against inflation or economic uncertainty for corporate treasuries.

Ethereum, on the other hand, brings a different flavor. Beyond price gains, it offers utility through its sprawling ecosystem of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols—think financial tools like lending or interest-earning platforms built on blockchain, bypassing banks entirely. Ethereum also allows “staking,” where firms can lock up their holdings to support the network and earn rewards, akin to interest on a savings account. For corporations, Ethereum’s smart contracts could automate complex agreements, slashing paperwork and middlemen. While we’re not here to crown a winner, it’s worth noting that some online chatter—like speculative threads on Reddit—suggests Ethereum’s versatility might outshine Bitcoin’s static appeal for business use, as seen in discussions on corporate treasury trends with stablecoins and Ethereum. Without hard data, though, that’s just coffee shop talk. Both assets have their place, filling niches Bitcoin alone might not cover.

Regulatory Tailwinds: US Policies Boost Confidence

Government moves are also greasing the wheels for corporate crypto adoption. In the US, recent policy shifts are addressing the regulatory fog that’s long spooked CFOs. President Donald Trump’s executive order in March 2025 established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve—a national stockpile of Bitcoin, much like gold reserves, to bolster economic security. Meanwhile, the GENIUS Act, passed by the Senate in June 2025 and signed into law in July per White House records, aims to cement the US as a digital asset powerhouse. It mandates consumer protections like 100% reserve backing for stablecoins, monthly transparency disclosures, and strict anti-money laundering compliance under the Bank Secrecy Act. These measures don’t just tidy up the rulebook; they prop up the dollar’s global heavyweight status by driving Treasury demand, with more details available in recent US cryptocurrency policy updates.

That said, it’s not all sunshine. Some argue these tight compliance rules could choke smaller crypto projects or centralize control in the hands of regulators and big players, clashing with the decentralization ethos we champion. Still, for CFOs, this clarity is a green light—or at least a yellow one—easing fears of stepping on regulatory landmines.

Beyond Finance: Blockchain in Supply Chain Management

Crypto’s potential for billion-dollar firms extends far beyond treasury desks. Over 50% of CFOs see blockchain—the underlying tech behind cryptocurrencies—as a game-changer for supply chain tracking. Imagine a company like Walmart using a blockchain to trace goods from factory to shelf in real time, cutting fraud, delays, and “where’s my shipment” headaches. Whether through stablecoins (48% interest) or non-stable crypto (52%), this transparency could redefine operational efficiency for global giants. It’s not just about money; it’s about leveraging decentralized ledgers to solve real-world business pain points.

Internally, the momentum is palpable. Deloitte notes 37% of CFOs have discussed crypto with their boards, 41% with Chief Information Officers, and a mere 2% report no stakeholder conversations at all. This cross-departmental buzz signals that digital assets aren’t a niche pet project—they’re becoming a strategic priority, a trend further supported by Deloitte’s 2025 survey on corporate crypto trends.

Reality Check: Risks and the Hype Trap

Let’s pump the brakes before we start carving crypto’s victory lap in stone. The hype around corporate adoption can veer into fantasy land, and we’re not here to peddle snake oil. Bitcoin’s “digital gold” narrative holds weight, especially with policy backing like the Strategic Reserve, but corporate involvement raises eyebrows. Could mass adoption by Wall Street turn Bitcoin into just another sanitized financial instrument, divorced from its cypherpunk roots of privacy and anti-establishment grit? And what about stablecoins—does corporate reliance on them undermine the push for true decentralization if they’re tethered to fiat systems?

Then there’s Ethereum’s supposed edge with DeFi and staking. Sure, it’s intriguing, but claims of it “replacing all corporate systems by 2030” floating around online are pure sci-fi nonsense. We’re not shilling altcoins or preaching moonshot price predictions—those are for gamblers, not serious discourse. Volatility, accounting messes, and regulatory tightropes aren’t vanishing anytime soon. Any CFO jumping in knows this is a calculated gamble, not a guaranteed jackpot.

What’s Next for Corporate Crypto?

Deloitte’s findings paint a picture of corporate finance at a crossroads. Crypto is shedding its wild west stigma, inching closer to mainstream legitimacy with each boardroom discussion. As champions of decentralization, privacy, and shaking up dusty financial systems, we’re rooting for this disruption—but not with blinders on. Bitcoin remains the flagship, the purest embodiment of a borderless, censorship-resistant money, yet stablecoins and Ethereum carve out vital roles in this revolution, addressing practical needs Bitcoin might never touch. The road ahead is riddled with potholes, but if these billion-dollar firms navigate it, they could redefine the future of money. Will corporate treasuries be the ultimate proving ground for crypto’s legitimacy? Only time will tell.

Key Questions on Corporate Crypto Adoption

• What percentage of CFOs at billion-dollar firms are planning to adopt crypto soon?

  23% are set to integrate cryptocurrencies for payments or investments within the next two years, according to Deloitte’s survey.

• Why are stablecoins seen as a safer bet for corporations compared to Bitcoin?

  Their value is pegged to fiat currencies, reducing volatility and making them more predictable for payments and transactions, unlike Bitcoin’s dramatic price swings.

• How are US policies influencing corporate confidence in digital assets?

  Moves like the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and GENIUS Act provide regulatory clarity and consumer protections, addressing key concerns and signaling government support for crypto.

• What non-financial uses for blockchain are CFOs exploring?

  Over 50% see potential in supply chain tracking, using blockchain for real-time transparency and efficiency in global logistics.

• Does corporate adoption risk undermining crypto’s decentralization ethos?

  Potentially—large firms and strict regulations could centralize control, clashing with Bitcoin’s anti-establishment roots, though they also validate its mainstream appeal.