Cryptocurrency and its foundational technology, blockchain, have the potential to be incredibly transformative for many industries. But like many other technologies that came before it, widespread adoption is going to be slow.

To make matters worse, Deloitte pointed out in a recent survey that “blockchain fatigue” has taken hold. People are already tired of hearing about it every day and just about everywhere. But that’s not what’s causing the primary hangup, believe it or not.

The average person simply doesn’t understand crypto — including what it is, how it works, or how it could fit into their life. Coupled with the fact that crypto is often associated with criminal enterprises, scams and extreme volatility, it’s easy to see why a lot of people are hesitant about even exploring the tech.

What is truly standing in the way of this innovative technology? What others barriers are getting between the public and more widespread crypto adoption?

1. Numerous Contradictions

Blockchain technology was originally developed to support Bitcoin, one of the most popular and valuable cryptocurrencies currently available. Initially, it was meant to promote decentralization, security, and anonymity in nearly all transactions.

But we’ve since discovered that it’s not quite as anonymous as most would like. In fact, very few cryptocurrencies offer true anonymity. Neither is it 100 percent secure. The crypto scene is rampant with scams, hacks and unscrupulous dealings.

For someone on the outside who understands little about the technology, this certainly seems to further the idea that it’s not as beneficial as pundits continue to claim.

2. Criminal Association

While it’s not a direct result of the technology itself, crypto does have a strong correlation with criminal activities and shady dealings.

This is, of course, due to its anonymous nature and digital infrastructure. Bitcoin has become one of the most popular and widely used forms of payment for cybercriminals, particularly when it comes to ransomware. “Cryptojacking” has also become a relatively new threat. This is where bots and viruses are planted to “mine” cryptocurrencies, usually unbeknownst to the machine owner or operator.

Perhaps the most damning of all is Bitcoin’s association with the Silk Road, an online black market that became known as a platform for selling illegal drugs, weapons and more.

3. Crypto, Crypto, Crypto

According to CoinMarketCap, there are well over 2,000 different types of cryptocurrencies in use, cumulatively worth an estimated $220 billion. Never mind the total value, which is dizzying in its own right. The number of currencies one must choose from is maddening.

Furthermore, each crypto type is meant for a separate purpose. Some are designed for agriculture and manufacturing, some for music distribution, and still others for power and energy valuation. Every day more and more are added to the list, with companies looking to cash in on the popularity and potential of crypto and blockchain.

For the average person, however, the learning curve is severe. Where do you even start? Which cryptocurrencies offer the best value and benefits?

4. Volatility

In general, currencies like the U.S. Dollar fluctuate in value over time. Sometimes it’s worth more and at other times it’s worth less — especially when converting to foreign currencies that are in flux themselves. But for the most part, the entire process is streamlined. A dollar is a dollar and you don’t necessarily lose money the longer you hold it.

That’s not true for most cryptocurrencies. Their value fluctuates far too much, and far too often, to serve as a reliable daily currency. Holding onto a cryptocurrency for a few days could lose you hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars. Even worse is the idea that as you’re waiting for a transaction to go through, the value could change considerably.

All in all, this really only makes crypto more of an investment vehicle, like stocks or bonds. The volatility needs to be eliminated or lessened considerably before the technology is adopted by the mainstream.

5. Peer-to-Peer

Cryptocurrency technology is supposed to be borderless, anonymous, frictionless and safe. Unfortunately, the peer-to-peer nature makes it anything but.

You don’t know who is on the other side of a transaction or what’s being done with the funds and goods. You could argue a black market is meant to work this way, but crypto wasn’t expressly developed to support black market dealings — that’s more of an inevitable and unfortunate byproduct.

For the average person, this means you could be unwillingly involved with rogue actors or nation-states disguised as “good” peers along the blockchain. You could be funding or supporting any number of shady activities, which makes you complicit.

6. It’s a Resource Hog

Mining is the process employed by most users to acquire “coins” of various cryptocurrencies. As you may know, this involves the use of powerful, resource-intensive computers that participate as part of a larger operation.

It’s no secret that powerful video cards and servers use a lot of energy, put out a ton of heat and need proper cooling. They have to run indefinitely in many cases. Mining farms or mining devices are no different.

A more sustainable mining technique is something we have yet to solve. There are actors supporting their mining habits using sustainable forms of energy — Canada and Iceland do this already — but it’s not common yet.

With a growing sentiment toward more sustainable practices and decreasing environmental impacts, the world at large has grown comfortable with the idea that we need to eliminate many resource-intensive processes and systems, not adopt them.

Mass Cryptocurrency Adoption Is Not Happening Tomorrow

You can see from a lot of these caveats that there are considerably more barriers to entry for the average person than just the simple act of understanding and using the supporting technologies.

Consider how many people already have trouble with today’s tech, such as smartphones and social networks. They will definitely have trouble dealing with private keys, public addresses, wallet tools, mining, and all the supporting tech that goes along with crypto and blockchain use.

In time, the technology will improve and crypto will become better, more sustainable and easier to use. But we’re a long way from that happening, which also means it’s going to be a while before we see mass adoption.