Cryptocurrencies started 2024 on uncertain footing but have since turned it into a landmark year. Factors such as improved regulatory clarity in key global markets, Ripple’s significant legal victories, and the approval of Bitcoin ETFs have played a pivotal role in restoring and boosting investor confidence. These developments have fueled optimism across both institutional and retail sectors, solidifying 2024 as a standout period for the cryptocurrency market.
While the United States led global crypto trading revenue last year, it lags in adoption rates. According to CryptoPresales.com, Argentina, Brazil, and India topped the charts in 2024 with the highest crypto ownership rates, nearly double those of the United States and European countries.
30% of Argentinians Owned Cryptocurrencies in 2024
Over the years, cryptocurrencies have gained huge popularity in Argentina, turning it into a nation with the highest crypto adoption rate globally. The country grappled with inflation and economic instability, so many Argentines turned to digital coins to protect their savings. Government restrictions on buying foreign currencies made digital coins even more popular, while innovative startups and younger, tech-savvy population only fuelled crypto adoption.
According to a Statista Consumer Insights survey, around 30% of Argentinians used or owned cryptocurrencies in 2024, 4% more than the previous year and 14% more compared to the country’s crypto adoption rate in 2019. Brazil ranked on a high second place with 24% of respondents who claimed the same. However, this represents a 4% drop since 2023, when the country had 28% of crypto owners.
India secured the third spot on the list, with 22% of its population owning cryptocurrencies in 2024. Over the years, India has seen a significant rise in crypto investors despite the government’s historically negative attitude toward the sector. The country’s crypto market continued growing last year and hit over 106 million crypto users, far more than in any other country or region. The Statista survey showed South Africa had the same share of crypto owners, 22%, followed by Portuguese 20%, and Switzerland’s 19% share. Chile, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Australia closed the top ten group, with 18%, 17%, and 16% shares, respectively.
Interestingly, neither the United States nor any major Western countries made the top ten. While 16% of Americans owned or used cryptocurrencies last year, this figure is significantly lower than in leading nations. Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom were even below that figure, with a 13% share of crypto owners each. Statistics show Finland, France, and Japan were at the back of the list with 9% and 6% shares, the lowest among surveyed nations.
Over 860 million People to Use Cryptocurrencies in 2025
Despite crypto adoption being mostly a non-Western trend, the number of crypto users continues to rise globally. The Statista Market Forecast estimates that by 2025, the global crypto user base will reach 861 million, up from 855 million in 2024.
India alone will count 107.3 million users, making roughly 15% of the world’s total. Europe, led by Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, and Spain, will collectively host around 218 million crypto users, while the United States will see 97 million users by the end of the year.