Paybis survey finds crypto holders want wallet flexibility

By AI, Created 11:20 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – A Paybis survey of 900 crypto holders found that nearly four in five want to use an external wallet at least some of the time, challenging the big-platform one-wallet model. The findings point to speed, security, and control as the main reasons users are moving between self-custody and custodial wallets.

Why it matters: - Crypto users are signaling that wallet choice is now a core expectation, not a niche preference. - The shift puts pressure on platforms that still try to keep users inside a single wallet ecosystem. - The findings suggest speed, security, and control are becoming key competitive features.

What happened: - Paybis surveyed 900 crypto holders and found 54.4% use an external crypto wallet. - Another 23.6% use both an external wallet and a platform-nominated wallet. - Only 22% rely on a single wallet alone. - The survey found nearly four in five users want the option to use an external wallet at least some of the time. - More than a third of users, 35.18%, already had an external wallet before joining Paybis.

The details: - Respondents said they use external wallets to trade on other platforms, keep crypto in one place, access features their existing wallet already provides, or because they believe external wallets are more secure. - Paybis said users switch between self-custody wallets and custodial wallets depending on the task. - In one-to-one interviews, predictable execution, cost understanding and confidence were the most common factors shaping wallet choice. - Ease of use and simplicity ranked first among what users value most, at 27.7%. - Speed and fast settlement ranked second at 15.6%. - Wallet and transfer features, including QR scanning and recipient amount visibility, ranked at 7.4%. - High or opaque fees were cited by 47.82% of users as a platform pain point. - Withdrawal and deposit restrictions or delays were cited by 25.36% of users. - Security concerns about hacks or losing access were cited by 16.84% of users. - Nearly 15% of users said an external wallet is more secure than keeping funds on an exchange. - Another 5.86% said they do not fully trust exchange wallets in general. - The research said the post-FTX environment has made self-custody a default for security-conscious holders.

Between the lines: - The results suggest wallet flexibility is moving into the mainstream for crypto platforms. - The data also shows that users want simple execution first, not more features for their own sake. - Paybis CEO Innokenty Isers said the company enables direct purchases and sales from third-party wallets because users want flexibility, speed and control.

What’s next: - Crypto platforms that want stronger wallet adoption will likely need to reduce fee confusion, remove transfer friction and improve trust. - Paybis is positioning its wallet strategy around direct transactions with third-party wallets and broader user flexibility. - The company says that approach is a growth driver as more users move in and out of crypto.

The bottom line: - The survey points to a clear shift: crypto holders want freedom to choose the wallet that fits the task, not a closed platform model.