Cryptocurrencies are slowly getting popular although when someone who knows nothing about it, they will have a negative connotation about it because of what they always hear in the news for those people who invested using bitcoin and since they don't know that bitcoin is a separate entity, they would immediately think that investing in bitcoin is scam.
If you want to make people be aware of cryptocurrencies then you may start with your family and friends. They would not immediately dismiss you because they know your personality and if you can properly explain it to them then there is a chance that they may consider investing in it too.