Cryptocurrency adoption exploded in 2025, driven by institutional and popular participation in various economies. While high-income countries focus on regulatory frameworks and investment products, low- and middle-income countries are leading the actual use of crypto for remittances, inflation hedging, and payments.
This report analyzes countries with the highest adoption indices, demographic information, most popular cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, legal tender status, and market forecasts for the remainder of 2025.
Global Crypto Adoption Report 2025: Top 20 Countries
Data collected from TRM Laboratories Cryptocurrency Adoption Report. India remained solid in its first place, followed by the United States.
- Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- According to the report, South Asia is the region with the fastest growing crypto adoption between January and July 2025. It saw an 80% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
- Between January and July 2025, crypto trading volume in the United States jumped approximately 50% compared to the same period in 2024, surpassing $1 trillion.
- Stablecoins accounted for 30% of all crypto trading volume between January and July 2025.
- Over 90% of fiat-backed stablecoins are pegged to the US dollar, with Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC) together accounting for 93% of the total stablecoin market capitalization.
Age and Gender Index of Crypto Holders
Age distribution:
- 18-34 years old: 51% of crypto holders worldwide
- 35-54 years old: 37%
- 55 years and over: 8%
Young adults (especially those aged 25-34) are the most active demographic in emerging and developed markets.
Breakdown by gender:
- Men: ~61%
- Female: ~39%
The gender gap is narrowing, with women’s participation growing fastest in Asia and Africa. Women are more likely to invest in stablecoins and DeFi yield platforms rather than speculative tokens.
| Age group | % of crypto holders | Distribution by gender (M/F) |
| 18-24 | 20% | 70/30 |
| 25-34 | 31% | 68/32 |
| 35-44 | 23% | 67/33 |
| 45-54 | 18% | 66/34 |
| 55+ | 8% | 65/35 |
Global Crypto Adoption 2025
The data below is collected from the CoinLaw investigation 2025.
- 35% of El Salvador’s total population uses crypto wallets since BTC became legal tender.
- Nigeria is the world leader in peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading with 45% of total transactions in Africa.
- Argentina and Turkey saw a 60% increase in crypto adoption amid high inflation in these countries.
- The United States and Europe hold 65% of institutional crypto investments.
- Africa is seeing a 60% increase in blockchain adoption as demand for affordable remittance infrastructure increases.
- The UAE and Singapore are at the forefront of blockchain real estate innovation with more than 50% of developers participating.
- 85% of American banks are considering or integrating blockchain solutions into their traditional payment system.
Most Adopted Cryptocurrencies (2025)
Bitcoin remains the most sought-after and widely held cryptocurrency in the world, followed by Ethereum and stablecoins. Meme coins and DeFi tokens are popular in some regions.
| Rank | Cryptocurrency | Global ownership (%) | Main countries that use it |
| 1 | Bitcoin | 62% | United States, India, Nigeria, Vietnam, Brazil, United Kingdom |
| 2 | Ethereum | 7% | United States, Canada, Germany, India, Singapore |
| 3 | Tether (USDT) | 5% | Türkiye, Nigeria, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam |
| 4 | XRP | 4% | Japan, South Korea, United States |
| 5 | Binance Coin (BNB) | 3% | India, Nigeria, Brazil, Vietnam |
| 6 | Solana | 2.5% | United States, Singapore, Vietnam |
| 7 | USD Coin (USDC) | 2% | WE |
| 8 | Dogecoin | 0.8% | United States, India, Philippines |
| 9 | Cardano | 0.8% | Indonesia, United States, United Kingdom |
| 10 | Tron | 0.7% | United States, United Kingdom, Singapore |
Most Adopted Stablecoins (2025)
Stablecoins have become essential in emerging markets for remittances, savings and payments.
| Rank | Stable coin | Global market share | Main countries of adoption |
| 1 | Tether (USDT) | ~65% | Nigeria, Türkiye, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia |
| 2 | USD Coin (USDC) | ~20% | United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Brazil |
| 3 | Dai (DAI) | ~5% | United States, Europe, Latin America |
| 4 | First Digital USD (FDUSD) | ~3% | Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arab Emirates |
| 5 | Ethena USDe | ~2% | United States, Europe, DeFi platforms |
Bitcoin as a national reserve
| Country | Status (2025) | Remarks |
| El Salvador | Active reserve | Has over 6,000 BTC in the national reserve |
| Bhutan | Active reserve | Accumulation via sovereign mining |
| UNITED STATES | Announced/active (federal, state) | Strategic reserve established by decree |
| Czech Republic | Planning/study | Up to 5% reserves by 2027 |
| Russia | Planning/legislative proposals | Strategic reserve for sanctions resilience |
| Singapore | Expected/advanced planning | Active digital asset projects |
| United Arab Emirates | Expected/advanced planning | Major crypto hub, reserve plans underway |
| Brazil | Drafting of laws | Bills to include BTC in reserves |
| Swiss | Citizen initiative | Central bank reserves proposal |
| South Africa | Political advocacy | Parties push for adoption of reservations |
| Indonesia | Bitcoin Reserve | Written proposal |
| Poland | Political advocacy | Presidential campaign promises |
| Germany | Political/legislative discussion | No formal reservation yet |
| Japan | Political/Central Bank Discussion | No formal reservation yet |
| Hong Kong | Political/legislative discussion | No formal reservation yet |
| Venezuela | Political/legislative discussion | No formal reservation yet |
Crypto Market Forecast for the Second Half of 2025
- Market Outlook: Continued growth is expected, driven by institutional investments, new ETF products and regulatory clarity in the US and EU.
- User base: Global crypto users are expected to surpass 950 million by the end of the year.
- Bitcoin Price: Analysts predict BTC could reach $120,000 to $140,000 by December 2025, barring major regulatory shocks.
- Stablecoin Expansion: Continued growth in emerging markets, particularly for remittances and cross-border payments.
- AI and DeFi: AI-powered crypto projects and DeFi platforms will continue to reshape the digital asset landscape.
- Analysts expect Ethereum to breach the $4,000 level and potentially reach new all-time highs in 2025.
Major adoption news – First half 2025 timeline
| Month | Event/title |
| January | US Launches Bitcoin Strategic Reserve; ETF inflows increase |
| FEBRUARY | Vietnam legalizes crypto for the first time |
| March | Pakistan Crypto Council launched; CZ joins as advisor |
| April | Thailand recognizes Tether (USDT) as an approved digital asset |
| Can | Pakistan announces its first government-backed Bitcoin reserve |
| June | South Korea passes stablecoin legalization bill |
| July | The Genius Act passes in the United States |
| August | Ripple vs SEC officially ends |
Conclusion
Cryptocurrency adoption in 2025 is accelerating at both an institutional and local level, with low- and middle-income countries leading real-world usage and high-income countries advancing regulatory clarity.
Bitcoin and stablecoins are the most widely adopted assets, serving as both investment vehicles and convenient tools for payments and remittances. With new legal frameworks, technological innovation, and growing user trust, the global crypto ecosystem is poised to grow further in the second half of 2025.
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FAQs
India, Nigeria, and Vietnam are leading crypto adoption in 2025 due to local usage, remittances, and DeFi activity.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether (USDT) are the most widely used around the world, especially in the United States, India, Nigeria and Vietnam.
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