NAICS Code for Cryptocurrency
What Is the NAICS Code for Cryptocurrency Businesses?
There is not one universal NAICS code for every cryptocurrency business. The correct NAICS code depends on what the business actually does at the establishment level. A crypto exchange, blockchain software developer, NFT creator, investment firm, accounting service, publisher, or consulting business may each belong in a different NAICS code.
This is why cryptocurrency classification often gets misapplied. Many businesses in this space describe themselves with the same broad terms, but their real operating activity can be very different. SICCODE.com helps users narrow the right code by focusing on business function, revenue activity, and industry scope instead of labels alone.
How to classify a cryptocurrency business
Start with the primary activity of the business, not the technology it mentions. “Crypto,” “blockchain,” or “Web3” are not NAICS industries by themselves. The classification usually follows the service being delivered.
Financial intermediation and trading activity
Businesses that facilitate trading, deal in certain financial products, manage investments, or provide investment-related services may fall into finance-related NAICS codes.
Software and infrastructure
Businesses building wallets, payment tools, smart-contract applications, blockchain integrations, or custom crypto software often fit better under software and programming classifications.
Media, content, and publishing
Businesses primarily creating news, commentary, research content, or digital media around cryptocurrency may fit under publishing or media-related classifications.
Professional services and creators
Businesses earning revenue from advisory work, accounting, design, content creation, or independent creative activity may fall into professional service or creator classifications instead.
Need expert help choosing the right code?
SICCODE.com provides free reference information to help you narrow likely options. When the answer is still unclear, expert assistance is available through CodeMatch.
CodeMatch is designed for businesses that need help determining the best-fit NAICS and SIC code based on their actual activity, revenue model, and industry scope. It is especially useful when a business could reasonably fall under more than one code.
Common NAICS codes used for cryptocurrency-related businesses
The codes below are commonly used starting points for cryptocurrency, blockchain, and NFT-related businesses. The right choice still depends on the actual activity of the company being classified.
| NAICS Code | Official Title | When it may fit |
|---|---|---|
| 523910 | Miscellaneous Intermediation | May fit certain businesses acting as principals in specialized financial activities, depending on how the firm operates and earns revenue. |
| 523160 | Commodity Contracts Intermediation | May apply to firms involved in certain commodity contract-related financial intermediation activities. This should be used carefully and only when the business model truly matches the industry scope. |
| 523940 | Portfolio Management and Investment Advice | May fit investment management or advisory businesses focused on digital assets, funds, or managed portfolios. |
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | Often a better fit for firms building blockchain applications, custom crypto software, smart-contract tools, wallets, integrations, or backend systems. |
| 541219 | Other Accounting Services | May fit firms offering crypto tax preparation, digital asset bookkeeping, or specialized accounting support. |
| 516210 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | May fit certain crypto-focused content or media platforms when the primary business is platform or content network activity rather than finance or software development. |
| 711510 | Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | May fit individual NFT creators, digital artists, or independent creators whose revenue is tied to original creative work. |
| 511110 | Newspaper Publishers | May apply in limited cases where the core business is publishing news or editorial content. For many crypto content businesses, other media classifications may be more appropriate. |
Important note
Many cryptocurrency businesses are misclassified because people choose a code based on industry buzzwords instead of the company’s actual operating function. A trading platform, token issuer, software developer, blockchain analytics company, and NFT artist should not automatically be grouped into the same NAICS code.
Examples by business type
Crypto software company
A company developing wallets, blockchain integrations, payment rails, or smart-contract applications may fit better under NAICS 541511 than under a finance code.
Digital asset investment advisory firm
A firm advising clients on digital asset portfolios or managing investment strategies may align more closely with NAICS 523940.
Crypto tax and accounting practice
A business focused on tax reporting, accounting support, and digital asset bookkeeping may fit under NAICS 541219.
NFT artist or creator business
An independent creator whose main activity is producing and selling original digital artwork may fit under NAICS 711510.
Why the right code matters
- It affects how a business is grouped for research, targeting, and list building.
- It can change which companies appear in an industry-specific prospecting list.
- It helps reduce noise from unrelated businesses using similar language.
- It supports cleaner internal segmentation, analytics, and market analysis.
- It improves the quality of appended industry data tied to your records.
SICCODE.com’s advantage is not just access to business data. It is knowing how to interpret business activity and industry scope so your targeting is more accurate from the start.
Need a targeted cryptocurrency business list?
If you are building a list of cryptocurrency, blockchain, NFT, or digital asset-related companies, classification quality matters. Broad keyword filtering often pulls in the wrong businesses. A better list starts with better industry interpretation.
SICCODE.com can help you build a more targeted business list using the most appropriate NAICS ranges and related industry filters based on the kind of companies you want to reach.
Build a business list or use the request form on this page for help narrowing the right industry scope.
Related NAICS resources
NAICS classification should be based on the establishment’s primary business activity. Where a business spans multiple functions, the best fit usually depends on the activity that most directly defines how the business operates.