(SeaPRwire) –   NEW YORK, May 8, 2026 — 5W, the AI Communications Firm, has announced the release of its 2026 Crypto & Digital Assets AI Visibility Index. The report ranks the top 25 U.S. crypto and digital asset brands based on their estimated share of citations within ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. This marks the newest edition of 5W’s flagship AI Visibility Index Series, which tracks how generative AI tools present brands during consumer searches.

During the first quarter of 2026, 5W executed over 65 consumer-intent prompts across the five AI platforms. The study tracked brand mentions within several sectors: U.S. centralized exchanges, fintech and brokerage-based crypto services, custody and self-custody solutions, Bitcoin ETF issuers, and stablecoin and payment networks. The results capture a market category being shaped in real-time within AI-generated responses, amid ongoing regulatory changes and without the influence of established brand legacy.

Key findings:

• Coinbase (13.0%) and Kraken (9.0%) collectively represent 22% of all crypto-related AI citations from the tracked queries—a share more than triple that of the next-largest U.S. exchange.
• Gemini (5.5%) secures the third position, supported by its NYDFS trust-company status and the personal brand of the Winklevoss twins. Its citation share in prompts concerning regulated trust surpasses its current commercial market size.
• Robinhood Crypto (5.0%) ranks fourth. Its 2025 transition into a standalone, SEC-compliant entity removed a prior citation penalty and reestablished its role as a beginner-friendly gateway. AI responses now rank Robinhood ahead of Coinbase in prompts from genuine beginners.
• BlackRock’s IBIT (4.5%) holds the fifth spot and is the dominant name in “Bitcoin ETF” prompts. Controlling 45–49% of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF assets, IBIT has achieved significant citation lock-in within 24 months—a rate of consolidation more akin to Vanguard’s formation of the index-fund category than typical ETF adoption.
• Binance.US (4.0%) ranks sixth, significantly lower than its global parent brand’s recognition would suggest. The 2023 SEC settlement and its operational separation from Binance global continue to limit its citation share.
• Cash App Bitcoin (3.5%) ranks eighth—its exclusive focus on Bitcoin yields a citation share that exceeds its commercial scale in beginner-oriented queries.
• Bitstamp (2.0%) ranks twelfth, even with one of the sector’s strongest security reputations. Its availability in just 38 states gives it the most limited U.S. presence among the major exchanges tracked.
• Citations for hardware wallets are declining. While Ledger and Trezor still top results for “best crypto wallet” prompts, they lose “best way to store crypto” prompts to answers recommending custody on regulated exchanges. The narrative favoring self-custody in the post-FTX era is no longer the primary frame in AI citations.

The report outlines six structural trends redefining the sector, such as: public-company audit trails proving more influential than proof-of-reserves in mainstream AI citations; the brokerage-fintech sector becoming a core part of the crypto exchange citation landscape; and ETF issuer citations consolidating more rapidly than those for retail exchanges.

From Ronn Torossian, Founder of 5W:
“Crypto presents the clearest case we’ve observed of a complete retail-finance category emerging inside AI answers in under five years. There is no entrenched set of incumbents like Fidelity-Schwab-Vanguard that the next 50 million American crypto buyers have historically trusted. The brand an AI surfaces when a user asks ‘where do I buy Bitcoin‘ or ‘is Robinhood safe for crypto‘ becomes their default choice—and the citation patterns solidifying this year will determine which platforms lead in the coming decade. The opportunity is available now, but it will not remain so indefinitely.”

The complete Crypto & Digital Assets AI Visibility Index 2026 can be accessed at: https://www.5wpr.com/ai-visibility-index/crypto-ai-visibility-index-2026/
The full AI Visibility Index Series is available at: https://www.5wpr.com/ai-visibility-index/
To learn about 5W’s Generative Engine Optimization practice: https://www.5wpr.com/practice/geo-optimization.cfm

Methodology 

In Q1 2026, 5W evaluated over 65 consumer-intent prompts across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. Tracked sub-categories included: U.S. centralized exchanges, fintech and brokerage crypto services, custody and self-custody, Bitcoin and crypto ETFs, and stablecoins with Bitcoin-native services. Citation share denotes the estimated proportion of brand mentions across the studied prompts. The Index assesses AI citation share for marketing and communications strategy; it does not evaluate platforms on fund safety, regulatory status, fee competitiveness, or investment suitability.

About 5W 

5W is the AI Communications Firm, dedicated to building brand authority on the platforms where consumer decisions are increasingly made—ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews—in addition to traditional earned media, digital, and influencer channels. 5W integrates public relations, digital marketing, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and proprietary AI visibility research to assist clients in measuring and expanding their presence within AI-driven consumer research.

Established over two decades ago, 5W has been ranked a top U.S. PR firm by O’Dwyer’s, awarded Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards®, and recognized as a Top Place to Work in Communications in 2026 by Ragan. The agency serves clients in numerous B2C sectors, including Beauty & Fashion, Consumer Brands, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, and Nonprofit. Its B2B specialties encompass Corporate Communications and Reputation Management, along with Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, and Digital Marketing services such as Social Media, Influencer marketing, Paid Media, GEO, and SEO. 5W was also included on the Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year list. For further details, visit www.5wpr.com.

Media Contact
Chris Bergin
cbergin@5wpr.com

SOURCE 5W Public Relations