US Climbs to Second in Global Crypto Adoption as APAC Leads Growth

The United States has leaped to the second spot on the Chainalysis 2025 Global Adoption Index due to regulatory clarity and increased ETF adoption. India retained its leading position as the third consecutive global leader, and Pakistan, Vietnam, and Brazil were in the top five. This ranking reflects a broader trend, crypto adoption is expanding rapidly in both mature markets with clearer rules and emerging economies where digital assets address real financial needs.

Regulatory Clarity and Institutional Adoption Propel the US

The US surged up from fourth to second position, which was driven mostly by mass adoption of spot Bitcoin ETFs and more transparent crypto regulations. These changes have made digital assets more attractive to institutional investors, such as hedge funds and financial advisers.

Farside Investors reports that US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $54.5 billion in inflows since January, with peak activity between June and July. Ether ETFs also saw notable accumulation, further cementing the US as a major hub for crypto investment. Consequently, the US now ranks ahead of countries with strong retail adoption but less institutional infrastructure.

APAC Emerges as the Fastest-Growing Region

Asia-Pacific experienced the fastest growth between July 2024 and June 2025, and the total value received increased 69% to $2.36 trillion. The dominance in India was fueled by the presence of a large diaspora and a tech-savvy population, especially in the use of cryptocurrencies for remittances.

Pakistan jumped six spots to third place, while Vietnam also demonstrated strong adoption. The Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand contributed to APAC’s growth, highlighting a mix of emerging and mature markets embracing crypto for real-world use cases.

When measured per capita, Eastern Europe dominates. Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia lead adoption, reflecting economic uncertainty, banking distrust, and high technical literacy. 

This situation makes crypto a popular investment for preserving wealth and facilitating cross-border transfers, particularly in countries prone to inflation or affected by conflict. Other nations in the region include Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Montenegro, and Belarus.

Bitcoin Remains the Primary Gateway

Bitcoin continues to serve as the primary entry point for new crypto users, with over $4.6 trillion in fiat inflows. Layer 1 tokens excluding Bitcoin and Ether surpassed $4 trillion, while stablecoins reached nearly $1 trillion.

Memecoins accounted for roughly $250 billion. The US leads globally in on-ramp volume at $4.2 trillion, with South Korea second at $1 trillion. Bitcoin’s dominance remains particularly strong in the UK and EU, where it represents nearly half of all fiat purchases.