60 Key Cryptocurrency Statistics for 2025

Cryptocurrency didn’t start with Bitcoin. The idea of secure digital payments goes back to 1983, when cryptographer David Chaum laid the groundwork. By 1990, the first digital currency was live. But it wasn’t until Bitcoin’s launch in 2009 that the crypto revolution took off.

Fast forward to today, and crypto is everywhere. It’s no longer just for tech enthusiasts—millions of people own crypto, trade it, and even hold it in ETFs and pension funds. In emerging markets, it’s a crucial tool for remittances and daily transactions.

But just how widespread is crypto adoption? And what’s driving this growth?

In this report, we break down 60 key crypto statistics that reveal how many people own cryptocurrency, how it’s used worldwide, and where it’s heading next.

Let’s dive in.

How many people own cryptocurrency and Bitcoin in 2025?

Since Bitcoin launched in 2009, crypto investment has grown rapidly to become one of the most compelling asset classes available on trading markets. While crypto was mysterious and highly technical to own at first, it has now reached the mainstream.

The number of people who own and use Bitcoin globally can only be estimated. Precise data is unattainable because individuals own multiple wallets, store funds in centralized exchanges rather than personal wallets, and hold inactive accounts. 

But a quick search through web studies and analyses suggests that:

• 106 million people reportedly own at least a share of Bitcoin. [1]
• This is despite the fact that the number of available Bitcoins is limited to 21 million, of which only 1.5 million remain. [2]
• In 2024, it was reported that there were more than 560 million cryptocurrency users worldwide—roughly 7% of the world’s population. This is more than the number of American Express cardholders or Paypal users globally. [3]

• In 2024, over 420 million people had their own crypto wallets. [4]
• The global cryptocurrency market value exceeded US$3 trillion for the first time ever in November 2024. [5]

While there are tens of thousands of cryptocurrencies in circulation, the overwhelming majority of ownership is concentrated in a few handfuls of currencies. And as we’ll see, Bitcoin reigns supreme in 2025.

How dominant is Bitcoin over other cryptocurrencies?

Bitcoin wasn’t the first cryptocurrency to go to market. But it was the first to really catch on. Here’s a 10-year price chart of Bitcoin, highlighting key milestones that shaped its rise and solidified its dominance in the cryptocurrency market.

The mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto first announced Bitcoin to the world with a scientific paper in August 2008. Bitcoin software became available in 2009, and mining began shortly thereafter.

• Nakamoto continues to be the largest individual holder of Bitcoins in the world. [6]

• The combined value of Bitcoins make up more than 50% of the total cryptocurrency market. [7]
• As of January 2025, the top five cryptocurrencies by market cap were Bitcoin ($2 trillion), Ethereum ($438 billion), XRP ($140 billion), Tether ($138 billion), and Binance Coin ($104 billion). [8] . However, it’s important to note that the rankings are very volatile and may change every month.

• In January 2025, 54% of crypto investors owned some Ethereum, compared with 76% for Bitcoin. Ethereum’s ownership rate has declined since reaching 65% in 2022. [9]

How many different cryptocurrencies are there?

Bitcoin and Ethereum are certainly the best known and most-owned cryptocurrencies, but there are many alternatives available. 

• Estimates vary, but there are likely more than 11,000 active cryptocurrencies on the global market. [10]
• Accounting for inactive or discontinued cryptocurrencies and coins, there may be as many as 20,000. [11]
• But crucially, the top 20 cryptocurrencies account for almost 90% of the total market. [11]

What were the fastest-growing cryptocurrencies in 2024?

2024 was a boom year for crypto. As a result, the industry as a whole grew massively, and certain altcoins saw major gains. 

• The top cryptocurrencies in 2024 were Pepe (1570,7%), SUI (509 %), Dogecoin (333 %), XRP (304 %) et Hedera (248%). [12]
• Ripple (XRP) soared 440% since the U.S. election, leaping from $0.50 on November 4 to $2.73 on December 2. [13]
• Sui, a blockchain competitor to Ethereum and Solana, was trading around $2 in April before dropping to $0.50 in August. By December, Sui had hit a new high of $4.78, and is often referred to as “the new Solana.” [14]

How is institutional investment driving cryptocurrency growth?

While we typically think of crypto as a domain for private investors, professional investors are an important and growing segment of users. As crypto has become a formidable asset class in its own right, institutional investors have come on board. 

• Business investment in Bitcoin grew by 30% year-on-year in 2024. [15]
• Digital assets under management in institutional funds were expected to reach $200 billion at the end of 2024, up from $90 billion in 2022. [16]

• In 2024, the public company with the largest Bitcoin stakes was intelligence software firm MicroStrategy, followed by Galaxy, Marathon Digital, and Tesla. [17]

Demographics: who owns cryptocurrencies?

While crypto ownership is becoming more common and entering the mainstream, clear age and gender patterns still exist. We can expect demographics to evolve in the years to come, but crypto investment today is more common among young males. 

• In 2024, 61% of crypto owners globally were male, while 39% were female. [3]
• In the U.S., younger Generation Xers and older Millennials are likelier to own crypto than older people. [9]
• In 2024, 34% of crypto owners were between the ages of 25 and 34. [3]
• Adults aged 50 or older were more likely to have little or no confidence in cryptocurrencies by the end of 2024. [18]

Where is cryptocurrency adoption growing the fastest?

Geography may be an even more important factor in crypto adoption than age or gender. Crypto ownership rates are vastly different between countries and continents. 

North America

Led by the United States, North America is the world’s leading region for crypto use and transaction volume. 

• North America is the largest crypto economy in the world in terms of trading volume. More than US$1.3 trillion flowed through North American crypto markets from July 2023 – June 2024. [19]
• In 2025, a reported 65.7 million Americans owned cryptocurrencies. [9]
• Overall, 17% of U.S. adults said they had ever invested in, traded, or used a cryptocurrency in 2024. This share is statistically unchanged since 2021. [18]

Europe

Europe is a thriving cryptocurrency market, particularly in the East. According to 2024 statistics:

• Europe is the second-largest cryptocurrency market in the world. The continent accounts for more than 17.5% of global transaction volume. [20]
• There are 31 million crypto users in Europe, placing it behind Asia (263 million), North America (57 million), and Africa (38 million). [21]

Asia

Asia has a huge number of crypto users. But growth rates have slowed compared with other regions, most likely due to increased regulations and a near ban on crypto in China, in particular. According to 2024 data:

• Asia is the region with the most crypto owners in the world. [22]
• Asia also has the most crypto developers of any region, with 32% of the world’s digital assets created here. [23]

• In 2023, India had the highest total number of crypto users in the world, followed by China, the U.S., Vietnam, and Pakistan. [3]
• China was the world leader in Bitcoin mining until a crackdown on the industry in 2021, when it made mining Bitcoin illegal. [24]

Latin/South America

Latin America is among the fastest-growing regions for crypto use. 

• In 2024, Latin America was the fifth largest region for crypto use, accounting for 9% of global value. [25]
• But it’s the most dynamic region, with user growth of 117% from 2023 to 2024. [22]
• The cryptocurrency market in South America was expected to reach US$3.7 billion in 2025. [26]
• Nearly 14% of South Americans were expected to use cryptocurrencies in 2025. [26]

Africa

While the total value of crypto transactions and ownership are relatively low in Africa, the continent sees a very high volume of small transactions. 

• According to 2023 statistics, Nigeria was easily the largest African cryptocurrency user base, and the 8th largest crypto country in the world. Nearly 6% of Nigerians reportedly hold crypto assets. [3]

• In 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa saw the world’s highest proportion (80%) of crypto retail payments of less than US$1,000. [27]
• Peer-to-peer crypto transactions are also more common in Sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else. [27]
• Bitcoin made up a larger share of transaction volume in Sub-Saharan Africa than any other geographic region in 2023. [28]

What’s the role of stablecoins in cryptocurrency markets in 2025?

Stablecoins are pegged to an existing external asset, such as gold or the U.S. dollar. This is designed to make them far less volatile than classic crypto coins. In essence, they offer the flexibility and easy trading that modern crypto provides with the predictability of more traditional assets. 

Potential investors have traditionally been nervous of crypto’s volatility. Stablecoins are therefore an increasingly popular option. 

• Stablecoins became the most popular crypto asset class in 2024, representing more than two-thirds of transactions. [29]
• The combined market value of stablecoins was above $210 billion at the start of January 2025. [30]
• Tether (“UDST”)—pegged to the U.S. dollar—is the world’s top stablecoin, with more than $140 billion in market cap in February 2025. [30]
• USDC is next at around $55 billion, with no other stablecoins above $10 billion. [30]
• In 2024, Ethereum was the leading blockchain for stablecoins, followed by Tron and Avalanche. [31]
• As of September 2024, stablecoins made up about 8% of the total crypto market. [32]

Stablecoins in emerging markets

Because many stablecoins are pegged to an existing world currency, they’re often a useful asset in place of local currencies, particularly in countries where the local currency isn’t reliable. They also provide users in these countries easier access to the dollar or euro, which are far more reliable and desirable currencies than most. 

• Around 1.4 billion adults around the world are “unbanked.” Many more have a hard time accessing financial services at fair rates, and sending money to family around the world can be expensive. [33]
• Over 99% of stablecoins are denominated in U.S. dollars. These give users in other markets access to the world’s leading currency. [31]
• According to a 2023 study, American users could save an estimated $12 billion per year in fees alone when sending money back to family in other nations, if using stablecoins instead of traditional wires. [34]
• Cryptocurrency transfers are 96% cheaper for users than traditional wire transfers. [34]

How significant are crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs)?

Crypto ETPs are a relatively new asset class, typically created by institutions to give customers another entry point to the crypto market. These track individual cryptocurrencies or crypto classes, but buyers don’t need a crypto wallet or to trade actual coins. 

• Bitcoin spot ETFs launched in January 2024. [35]
• By the end of January 2024, Bitcoin ETFs already represented 3% of total Bitcoin value. [36]
• The largest exchange-traded crypto product is BlackRock’s IBIT ETF, iShares Bitcoin Trust. [37]
• Of the top 25 crypto ETPs, 21 focus exclusively on Bitcoin, 3 on Ethereum, and 1 on Solana. [37]

What does the future hold for cryptocurrency adoption?

Based on its current trajectory—and bolstered by a Trump administration and congress seen as pro-crypto—digital asset adoption is set to increase in the coming years. 

• Combined trading volume reached $77 billion in March 2024, the second-highest level since trading volumes hit $100 billion in March 2021. [38]

• The number of crypto users worldwide is expected to reach 861 million in 2025. [39]
• The United States is expected to have nearly 100 million cryptocurrency users in 2025. [40]
• The number of European crypto users is expected to exceed 218 million in 2025. [41]
• 57% of institutional investors were “bullish” at the end of 2024, planning to increase cryptocurrency allocation. [42]
• Only 5% of institutional investors planned to decrease their crypto allocation as of November 2024. [42]

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, cryptocurrency trading and adoption have fully entered the mainstream. This is among the most popular, fastest-growing asset classes, and is becoming an increasingly common currency for transactions around the world.

No longer reserved just for young, tech-savvy consumers, crypto is now a core asset for institutional investors, large companies, and funds. With regulations evolving around the world, and more and more users entering the market, it remains to be seen whether crypto can continue this meteoric growth. 

Based on the astounding numbers above, we’re betting it can.