--- title: "How Many People Use Cryptocurrency Worldwide 2026: Global User Count by Year and Region" date: 2026-07-02 author: "Barry Elad" featured_image: "https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/how-many-people-use-cryptocurrency-worldwide.jpg" categories: - name: "Cryptocurrency" url: "/crypto.md" tags: - name: "Statistics" url: "/tag/statistics.md" --- # How Many People Use Cryptocurrency Worldwide 2026: Global User Count by Year and Region Roughly 741 million people owned [cryptocurrency](https://coinlaw.io/how-cryptocurrency-works/) worldwide at the end of 2025, according to Crypto.com’s Market Sizing Report, a **12.4%** rise from 659 million a year earlier. In the United States, the Pew Research Center finds that about **1 in 5** American adults have used crypto, while the Federal Reserve’s household survey puts active use at just **8%**. That gap is the whole problem with counting crypto users: whether you count people who own coins, people who actively transact, or raw wallet addresses, the same world produces wildly different totals. The numbers below pin down which is which, by year, by region, and by survey. ## Key Takeaways - Global cryptocurrency owners increased by **12.4%** in 2025, rising from **659 million** in 2024 to **741 million**, per Crypto.com’s Market Sizing Report. - Triple-A estimated global ownership at an average of **6.8%** in 2024, with **over 560 million** digital currency owners worldwide, a lower count drawn from a different method. - About **1 in 5** Americans have used crypto, with men at **27%** versus women at **11%**, in a Pew Research Center survey of 8,512 US adults. - US crypto use fell to **8%** of adults in 2024, down from **12%** in 2021, according to the Federal Reserve’s SHED survey. - India ranked first in the Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, ahead of the United States at second and Pakistan at third, across **151 countries**. - Approximately **30%** of American adults, or **70.4 million** people, own cryptocurrency in 2026, up from **27%** in 2024 but below the 2022 peak of **33%**, per Security.org. ## Editor’s Choice - **741 million** people owned cryptocurrency globally at the end of 2025, by Crypto.com’s count. - Bitcoin ownership grew to **365 million** users, an **8.3%** increase from 337 million, representing **49.3%** of all global owners. - The world average crypto ownership rate stood at **6.9%** in 2024, per Triple-A. - **70.4 million** US adults own cryptocurrency in 2026, per Security.org’s annual consumer report. - APAC crypto value received grew **69%** year over year, from **$1.4 trillion** to **$2.36 trillion**, in the Chainalysis 2025 index. - Hong Kong topped Triple-A’s 2024 country list with a **31.0%** ownership rate, followed by the UAE at **24.4%**. ## How Many People Own Cryptocurrency Worldwide - Crypto.com counted **741 million** global cryptocurrency owners at the end of 2025, up from **659 million** a year earlier. - Owner growth reached **12.4%** over the year, per Crypto.com’s Market Sizing Report. - Bitcoin owners totaled **365 million**, an **8.3%** rise from 337 million in 2024. - Ethereum saw stronger growth, with owners up **22.6%** to **175 million**, from 142 million in 2024. - Bitcoin accounted for **49.3%** of all global owners; Ethereum for **23.6%**. - Triple-A’s separate 2024 estimate put global ownership at **over 560 million** people, well below Crypto.com’s later on-chain count. - Triple-A’s world average ownership rate was **6.9%**, applied across its country-weighted model. - Crypto ownership grew at a compound annual rate of **99%** from 2018 to 2023, far above the **8%** average for traditional payment methods, per Triple-A. SourcePeriodGlobal ownersOwnership rateMethodCrypto.com Market Sizing ReportEnd of 2025741 millionn/aOn-chain modelingCrypto.com Market Sizing ReportEnd of 2024659 millionn/aOn-chain modelingTriple-A2024over 560 million6.9%Country-weighted surveySource: Crypto.com Market Sizing Report 2025, Triple-A 2024 The single number most readers want is 741 million, but no two methods agree, so the right way to read these counts is to keep the method attached to the figure. For deeper country-level ownership splits, the [cryptocurrency adoption by country statistics](https://coinlaw.io/cryptocurrency-adoption-by-country-statistics/) page tracks the same national rates over a longer horizon. ## Crypto Owners vs Users vs Wallets: Defining the Count - Crypto.com’s **741 million** figure counts *owners*, people who hold a balance, estimated from on-chain data with blended parameters. - Pew’s “about **1 in 5**” figure counts *users*, Americans who have invested in, traded, or used crypto, a behavior measure rather than a holdings snapshot. - The Federal Reserve counts active *use*: only **8%** of US adults used crypto for any purpose in 2024, and just **2%** used it to buy something or make a payment. - Holding method matters too: within the about **22%**, Motley Fool counts as owners, **16%** own crypto directly, and **6%** hold it only through a crypto ETF. - Transactional use splits further: **7%** of US adults held crypto as an investment, **1%** used it to send money to friends or family, per the Fed. - Wallet addresses are the loosest count of all: one person can hold dozens of wallets, exchanges custody balances for millions of users under pooled addresses, and many addresses sit dormant for years, so address totals overstate the human count by an order of magnitude. Count typeWhat it measuresExample figureSourceOwnersPeople holding a balance741 million globallyCrypto.comUsersPeople who have transactedabout 1 in 5 US adultsPew Research CenterActive useUsed crypto in prior year8% of US adultsFederal Reserve SHEDETF-only holdersExposure without direct custody6% of US adultsMotley FoolSource: Crypto.com 2025, Pew Research Center 2026, Federal Reserve SHED 2024, Motley Fool 2026 > **By the numbers:** The Federal Reserve found just **2%** of US adults used crypto to make a payment in 2024 and **1%** to send money to family, even as **7%** held it as an investment. Ownership and everyday use are not the same population, which is why a single “crypto user” number is misleading. Readers tracking the wallet layer specifically can compare these owner counts against the [crypto wallet ecosystem statistics](https://coinlaw.io/crypto-wallet-ecosystem-statistics/), where address totals and active-wallet figures sit far above any people-based estimate. ## Global Crypto Ownership by Year - Global owners rose from **659 million** at the end of 2024 to **741 million** at the end of 2025, per Crypto.com. - [Bitcoin](https://coinlaw.io/bitcoin-statistics/) owners climbed from **337 million** to **365 million** over the same year, an **8.3%** gain. - [Ethereum](https://coinlaw.io/ethereum-statistics/) owners rose from **142 million** to **175 million**, a **22.6%** gain, outpacing Bitcoin’s growth rate. - US active use moved the other way, falling from **12%** of adults in 2021 to **8%** in 2024, per the Federal Reserve. - US ownership measured by Security.org climbed from **27%** in 2024 to approximately **30%** in 2026, though it has not retaken the 2022 peak of **33%**. - Over the longer 2018 to 2023 window, Triple-A clocked a **99%** compound annual growth rate in global ownership. - In de-identified Chase banking data, the share of individuals transferring into crypto accounts rose from **3%** before 2020 to almost **15%** by mid-2022. PeriodMetricValueSource2024Global owners659 millionCrypto.com2025Global owners741 millionCrypto.com2021US active use12%Federal Reserve2024US active use8%Federal Reserve2024US ownership27%Security.org2026US ownership30%Security.orgSource: Crypto.com 2024-2025, Federal Reserve SHED, Security.org 2026 The two trend lines diverge on purpose. CoinLaw’s adoption coverage consistently shows the global owner count grinding upward through cycles, while a single national survey can dip, because survey-measured active use tracks price sentiment more closely than the cumulative holder base does. ## Recent Developments - In June 2026, Pew Research Center reported that about **1 in 5** US adults have used crypto, with Republicans now more likely than Democrats to have done so, at **22%** versus **17%**. - Security.org’s 2026 consumer report put US ownership at approximately **30%**, or **70.4 million** adults, with Bitcoin held by **74%** of owners. - Motley Fool’s May 2026 survey of 2,000 adults found about **22%** of Americans own or hold crypto, including **6%** who hold it only through an ETF. - Crypto.com’s late-2025 Market Sizing Report recorded **741 million** global owners, up **12.4%** from 659 million a year earlier. - The Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, covering the 12 months ending June 2025, added an institutional component capturing transfers exceeding **$1 million**. ## Crypto Adoption by Region - APAC posted a **69%** year-over-year increase in value received, as transaction volume grew from **$1.4 trillion** to **$2.36 trillion**, per Chainalysis. - Latin America posted a **63%** growth rate in the 2025 index. - Sub-Saharan Africa expanded **52%**, ahead of North America’s **49%** gain. - Europe gained **42%** in value received over the same 12-month window. - The Chainalysis index ranks **151 countries** for which it has sufficient data, weighting rankings by population size and purchasing power. - The 2025 methodology’s institutional cutoff of transfers above **$1 million** reflects growing participation by traditional financial institutions and professional investors. RegionYear-over-year value growthNotable figureSourceAPAC69%$1.4 trillion to $2.36 trillion volumeChainalysisLatin America63%n/aChainalysisSub-Saharan Africa52%n/aChainalysisNorth America49%institutional concentrationChainalysisEurope42%n/aChainalysisSource: Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index > **Why it matters:** Chainalysis splits the world into two tracks: grassroots adoption concentrated in emerging markets like India and Pakistan, and institutional value, transfers above **$1 million**, concentrated in North America. The result is parallel crypto economies that a single global ownership number flattens into one figure. ## Top Countries by Crypto Ownership Rate - India ranked first in the Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, followed by the United States, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Brazil. - Nigeria, Indonesia, Ukraine, the Philippines, and the Russian Federation completed the top **10** grassroots adopters. - By ownership rate, Hong Kong topped Triple-A’s 2024 country list at **31.0%**. - The UAE followed at **24.4%**, with Singapore at **19.3%** and Turkey at **18.9%**. - Argentina, Thailand, and Brazil each posted ownership rates around **17.5%** to **17.6%**. - The two rankings measure different things: Chainalysis ranks usage intensity weighted by economic capacity, while Triple-A ranks the raw share of the population that owns, so Hong Kong tops the ownership table while India tops the activity index. CountryOwnership rateChainalysis adoption rankSourceHong Kong31.0%n/aTriple-AUAE24.4%n/aTriple-ASingapore19.3%n/aTriple-ATurkey18.9%n/aTriple-AArgentina17.6%n/aTriple-AIndian/a1ChainalysisUnited Statesn/a2ChainalysisPakistann/a3ChainalysisSource: Triple-A 2024, Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index The [unbanked population statistics](https://coinlaw.io/unbanked-population-statistics/) help explain why several top adopters are emerging markets with large underbanked populations. ## US Crypto Ownership Rate by Survey - Pew Research Center found that about **1 in 5** US adults have used crypto, in a January 2026 survey of 8,512 adults. - Security.org put US ownership at approximately **30%**, or **70.4 million** adults, in its 2026 report. - Motley Fool counted about **22%** of Americans as owning or holding crypto in May 2026. - Gallup found **14%** of US adults own bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, in a June 2025 survey of 2,017 adults. - The Federal Reserve recorded **8%** of adults using crypto for any purpose in 2024. - De-identified Chase banking data showed that almost **15%** of individuals had transferred into crypto accounts by mid-2022, drawn from nearly 5 million checking accounts. SurveyPeriodUS figureWhat it measuresSampleSecurity.org202630%Ownershipn/aMotley FoolMay 202622%Own or hold2,000 adultsPew Research CenterJan 2026about 1 in 5Have used8,512 adultsJPMorgan Chase Institutemid-2022almost 15%Transferred into crypto~5 million accountsGallupJune 202514%Ownership2,017 adultsFederal Reserve SHED20248%Active use~13,000 adultsSource: Security.org 2026, Motley Fool 2026, Pew Research Center 2026, JPMorgan Chase Institute, Gallup 2025, Federal Reserve SHED 2024 > **Worth noting:** US estimates span from **8%** (Federal Reserve, active use) to **30%** (Security.org, ownership), nearly a fourfold range. The spread is not error; it reflects each survey measuring a different behavior across a different sample and period. ## US Crypto Use by Demographic - Pew found **27%** of men have used crypto versus **11%** of women, with adoption highest among adults aged 30 to 49 at **28%**. - Among older Americans aged 50 and up, only **10%** have used crypto, per Pew. - Asian adults led adoption at **25%**, while White, Hispanic, and Black Americans clustered around **18%** to **20%**, per Pew. - Gallup found that men aged 18 to 49 own crypto at **25%**, the highest of any group, versus **8%** for women aged 18 to 49. - Motley Fool reported **34%** of male respondents own crypto versus **11%** of female respondents. - Chase banking data showed **20%** of millennials transferred into crypto, versus **11%** of Generation X and **4%** of baby boomers. GroupFigureSurveyMen (Pew)27% usedPewWomen (Pew)11% usedPewAges 30-49 (Pew)28% usedPewAges 50+ (Pew)10% usedPewMillennials (JPM)20% transferredJPMorgan Chase InstituteBaby boomers (JPM)4% transferredJPMorgan Chase InstituteSource: Pew Research Center 2026, Gallup 2025, Motley Fool 2026, JPMorgan Chase Institute For the full breakdown of who owns crypto by age, gender, income, and race, the [crypto user demographics statistics](https://coinlaw.io/crypto-user-demographics-statistics/) page carries the detailed cuts that sit beyond this count-focused view. ## Why the Estimates Disagree: Source and Method Comparison - Crypto.com’s **741 million** owner count uses on-chain data with blended parameters, not a survey. - Triple-A estimated **over 560 million** owners worldwide at an average ownership rate of **6.8%** in 2024. - Chainalysis ranks **151 countries** by grassroots activity using four weighted sub-indices, not an ownership headcount. - Pew surveyed 8,512 US adults through its American Trends Panel to reach the “about **1 in 5**” figure. - The Federal Reserve’s **8%** comes from its ongoing SHED household survey conducted in 2024. - The almost **15%** figure comes from observed transfers in nearly 5 million de-identified Chase checking accounts, an administrative-data approach. SourceHeadline figureScopeMethodCrypto.com741 million ownersGlobalOn-chain modelingTriple-Aover 560 million ownersGlobalCountry-weighted surveyChainalysis151 countries rankedGlobalWeighted activity sub-indicesPew Research Centerabout 1 in 5 usedUS adultsAmerican Trends Panel surveyGallup14% ownUS adultsGallup Panel web surveyFederal Reserve SHED8% usedUS adultsHousehold surveyJPMorgan Chase Institutealmost 15% transferredUS Chase customersAdministrative banking dataSource: Crypto.com 2025, Triple-A 2024, Chainalysis 2025, Pew Research Center 2026, Gallup 2025, Federal Reserve SHED 2024, JPMorgan Chase Institute This is where CoinLaw’s data-first approach earns its keep. Laying the methods side by side shows that on-chain modeling, surveys, and banking data measure genuinely different populations, so the honest answer is a range, not a point. Usage context for the on-chain side of the count sits in the [decentralized finance market statistics](https://coinlaw.io/decentralized-finance-market-statistics/), where protocol activity reflects the active rather than the dormant share of holders. ## What Percentage of the World Owns Cryptocurrency? Roughly **6.8%** to **6.9%** of the world owned cryptocurrency as of 2024, per Triple-A’s country-weighted estimate of over **560 million** owners. Crypto.com’s later on-chain model implies a higher share, with **741 million** owners at the end of 2025. The exact percentage depends on the method: survey-based estimates tend to sit lower than on-chain models, because surveys miss holders who do not self-report, and on-chain models can over-count addresses that map to the same person. ## Which Country Uses Cryptocurrency the Most? India ranked first in the Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, which measures grassroots usage across **151 countries**, followed by the United States and Pakistan. By a different yardstick, the share of the population that owns crypto, Hong Kong topped Triple-A’s 2024 country list at **31.0%**, ahead of the UAE at **24.4%**. The “most” depends on whether you rank by usage intensity, where large emerging markets dominate, or by ownership rate, where smaller high-income hubs top the list. ## Is Crypto Adoption Growing or Declining? Globally, adoption is growing: Crypto.com recorded a **12.4%** rise in owners in 2025, reaching **741 million**. The US picture is mixed. The Federal Reserve found active use fell from **12%** in 2021 to **8%** in 2024. Security.org found ownership recovered from **27%** in 2024 to approximately **30%** in 2026, still short of the 33% peak in 2022. The global owner base keeps expanding even when a single national survey dips, because cumulative ownership is less price-sensitive than active use. ## Conclusion Roughly **741 million** people owned cryptocurrency worldwide at the end of 2025, a **12.4%** rise from the previous year, per Crypto.com. Triple-A’s estimate puts the figure lower, at **over 560 million**. In the United States, estimates range widely: the Federal Reserve’s **8%** active-use floor rises to Security.org’s roughly **30%** ownership ceiling, with Pew’s about **1 in 5** sitting in between. The spread is the finding, not a flaw: owners, users, and wallets are three different populations, and any honest global count carries its method with it. For readers tracking the trajectory, the global owner base has grown through every recent cycle, even as US active use dipped. The Chainalysis 2025 index pairs emerging-market grassroots adoption with an institutional component capturing transfers above **$1 million**. Definition of Crypto ETF. Link to full glossary entry follows the description.**Crypto ETF**A crypto ETF is an exchange-traded fund that holds cryptocurrency directly or via futures, letting investors access digital assets through brokerage accounts. [Read more](https://coinlaw.io/glossary/crypto-etf/)