Crypto: Which countries are the most committed to adoption?

When we think about crypto, we often imagine traders, big bitcoin fluctuations, or scandals around exchange platforms. But behind the sensational headlines, a reality sets in: some countries don’t just talk about it. They adopt it, structure it, integrate it. So, which territories are the most crypto-thirsty today? Where do we see a real shift towards digital money, far beyond the hype?

Singapore and Emirates: Two small territories, a XXL crypto obsession

They don’t have the size of the United States, nor the financial power of China. Yet, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates are at the top of the 2025 ApeX Protocol index, a ranking that evaluates interest in crypto according to four criteria: holding rate, adoption growth, search volume, and number of ATMs.

Singapore reaches a perfect score of 100 points. The country combines 24.4% crypto asset holders and 2,000 crypto-related searches per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest level in the world. In 2021, only 11% held crypto. The proportion more than doubled in one year.

On the Emirates side, 25.3% of the population holds cryptocurrencies. Since 2019, adoption has risen by 210%. The Dubai effect is not unrelated: free zones for fintech, a dedicated regulator (VARA), and a declared aim to become a global Web3 leader.

Crypto is no longer marginal. It is becoming a pillar through which countries redefine their financial future… not only as an investment but as a reflection of the relationships people have with technology, money, and trust in the digital age.

ApeX Protocol

Crypto and infrastructure: the numbers don’t tell the same story

A country can be “crypto-obsessed”… without being truly equipped for massive bitcoin adoption. This is shown by comparing the United States, Canada, or Turkey, all well ranked in the ApeX ranking, but for different reasons.

The United States ranks third, not thanks to a high holding rate but because of solid infrastructure: 30,000 crypto ATMs, ten times more than any other country. Usage growth there is +220% since 2019.

Canada stands out with the fastest growth in the ranking: +225% adoption. It also has 3,500 ATMs, a sign that infrastructure follows interest. Turkey, in fifth place, shines with a 19.3% holder rate despite local economic instability.

This plurality reveals a divide in approach between: infrastructure and real usage (USA, Canada) and rapid popular adoption (Turkey, Singapore, Emirates…)

Top 5 noteworthy data points

• Singapore: 24.4% of the population in crypto, 2,000 Google queries per 100,000 inhabitants;
• Emirates: 25.3% holdings, +210% adoption since 2019;
• USA: 30,000 ATMs, +220% usage;
• Canada: +225% adoption, 3,500 ATMs;
• Turkey: 19.3% holdings despite inflation.

This diversity forces us to nuance: adopting crypto doesn’t always mean understanding it, much less using it wisely. The digital obsession can precede or mask real usage. No one should be surprised to see Singapore at the top of this ranking. It is only the logical continuation of visionary policy. A recent study confirmed it: the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region now dominates the global crypto scene, with growing adoption in many regions.