India, U.S. lead global crypto adoption race as digital asset usage surges worldwide: Report

As the global landscape of cryptocurrency adoption continues to evolve, digital assets are gaining wider acceptance, with countries across the world embracing crypto in various forms, from mobile transactions and remittances to institutional investments. Against this backdrop, India and the United States are emerging as the global leaders in cryptocurrency adoption, according to the latest report by NFT Plazas.

Citing the Chainalysis 2025 global adoption index, the report said India and the U.S. are at the forefront of crypto adoption as usage expands rapidly across both developed and emerging economies.

APAC emerges as fastest-growing crypto region

The report noted that Asia-Pacific region recorded the fastest growth in on-chain crypto activity over the 12 months ending June 2025, with value received rising 69% year-on-year to $2.36 trillion from $1.4 trillion, driven by strong participation from India, Vietnam and Pakistan. South Asia also emerged as the fastest-expanding crypto adoption region between January and July 2025, posting an 80% year-on-year rise and generating nearly $300 billion in transaction volume.

The report highlighted that cryptocurrency ownership in the Philippines climbed to nearly 16 million users in 2025, largely fueled by remittance activity, while El Salvador continued recognizing Bitcoin as legal tender, with 85% of small businesses reportedly accepting the token as payment.

In Africa, Sub-Saharan countries received over $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, marking a 52% increase from the previous year. Nigeria’s adoption continues to be driven by a young demographic, with 74% of crypto holders under the age of 30.

The U.S. market also witnessed strong momentum, with crypto transaction volumes crossing $1 trillion between January and July 2025, up nearly 50% from the corresponding period last year, according to TRM data.

Merchant acceptance expands rapidly

Institutional interest in digital assets is also accelerating. A second-quarter 2025 North American CFO Signals survey showed that 23% of CFOs expect their treasury departments to adopt cryptocurrency for investments or payments within the next two years, while the figure rises to nearly 40% among companies with annual revenues exceeding $10 billion.

The report noted that merchant acceptance is expanding rapidly. A January 2026 survey by PayPal and the National Cryptocurrency Association found that 39% of U.S. merchants have already implemented cryptocurrency payment options, while 79% believe accepting crypto can help attract new customers.

Globally, younger consumers continue to drive adoption trends. According to the report, the average crypto user age stood at 34.8 years by the end of 2025, with Millennials accounting for 57% of crypto ownership in the United States. Generation Z has emerged as the fastest-growing crypto investor group in the country.

The report also pointed to rising participation from women in select markets, with Indonesia leading Southeast Asia as 46% of its crypto users are female as of the third quarter of 2025.

Meanwhile, major financial institutions are increasingly exploring digital asset offerings. In the first quarter of 2026, UBS Group AG began evaluating opportunities to provide cryptocurrency access to retail investors as global financial firms deepen engagement with digital assets.