Top 10 Countries That Use Bitcoin – May 2024 Data
David Kemmerer is the Co-Founder and CEO of CoinLedger. David has been deeply involved with the cryptocurrency industry since 2017.

By the numbers:
- CopyGlobal crypto adoption grew by 172% in 2024.
- CopyIndia ranks first in the world for cryptocurrency adoption in 2024
- CopyNigeria holds the second-highest level of crypto adoption globally in 2024.
- Indonesia takes third place in the global cryptocurrency adoption rankings for 2024.Copy
- CopyThe United States ranks fourth in the world for crypto adoption in 2024.
- CopyVietnam is fifth globally in cryptocurrency adoption in 2024.
- CopyThe crypto adoption rate grew by 38.1% from 2023 to 2024
- CopyIn 2024, global crypto ownership reached an estimated 559 million people.
- CopyThe number of Bitcoin users is projected to reach 1.1 billion by 2030.
In 2024, global crypto adoption surged by 172%, with India, Nigeria, and Indonesia leading the way. The total number of crypto users worldwide is approaching 600 million, and in some nations, nearly one in three people already own digital assets. Knowing where adoption is exploding can help you track trends, uncover investment opportunities, and understand regulatory pressure points.
Let’s explore the data.
Crypto adoption by country:
From giants like India to fast-growing digital economies like Vietnam, the map of crypto adoption paints a surprisingly diverse picture. Let’s check it out:
Which countries use cryptocurrency the most
Top crypto countries: top 20 list
Zooming in on the leaders, this shortlist highlights which countries are setting the pace in the global shift to crypto.
List of top 10 countries that use Bitcoin in Q4 2024:
If you're wondering who really uses Bitcoin day-to-day, this list breaks it down by actual adoption on the ground:
- India
- Nigeria
- Indonesia
- United States
- Vietnam
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Philippines
- Pakistan
- Brazil
Unlike traditional tech trends, crypto’s rise has been anything but smooth, this section unpacks the wild swings and what caused them.
- After the 2021 bull run, crypto adoption plunged due to the 2022 market crash, the collapses of Terra and FTX, and rising global regulation.
- The Chainalysis index dropped in 2022–2023 as real-world crypto usage fell, even though many still held assets.
- Crypto adoption rebounded sharply in early 2024, fueled by Bitcoin ETFs and stablecoin growth in emerging markets.
If you are looking for crypto users growth as crypto adoption metric - you will find ths analysis later in this report.
Crypto ownership in the world
Ownership rates help explain where crypto is more than a trend, it’s becoming part of daily life in some countries.
What percentage of the world owns cryptocurrency?
6.9% of the global population owns cryptocurrency in 2024.
How many crypto users in the world?
In 2024, an estimated 559 million people worldwide own cryptocurrency.
Crypto ownership by country
Ownership percentages vary widely by region: some nations have crypto in nearly every third wallet.
- One in every three people in the UAE owns cryptocurrency in 2024.
- One in four people in Singapore owns cryptocurrency in 2024.
- One in five people in Turkey owns cryptocurrency in 2024.
Table with the percentage of people who own crypto by country
Which country has the most crypto investors?
This section answers the big question: where do most of the world’s crypto holders actually live? A large country with a smaller percentage of owners can have more crypto owners. And India is a paramount example:
- In 2024, India leads the world with nearly 119 million crypto owners, meaning more than one in five crypto holders globally is Indian.
- The United States counts over 53 million crypto owners in 2024, making it the second-largest hub of digital asset holders worldwide.
- In 2024, Indonesia ranks third with more than 39 million people owning cryptocurrency, highlighting Southeast Asia’s massive role in global adoption.
Table with the number of crypto owners by country
Growth of Bitcoin users vs. Internet users
Bitcoin’s adoption is often compared to the early internet. Here's how closely that claim matches the numbers.
- Aligning Bitcoin’s adoption curve with the Internet’s historical growth suggests Bitcoin users will reach about 1.1 billion by 2030.
Crypto adoption rate
Looking at how quickly user numbers are climbing, the crypto adoption rate reveals just how fast the space is growing:
- The crypto adoption rate grew by 38.1% from 2023 to 2024, reflecting a sharp rise in user activity.
- Over the last decade, the bitcoin adoption rate surged by more than 18,640%, marking one of the fastest technology adoption curves in history.
- The average yearly crypto adoption rate over the past 10 years was approximately 83.3%, showing consistent global growth.
India crypto adoption facts:
- India has 97.5 million crypto owners, making up 7.1% of its population.
- Female crypto users in India grew by 300% between 2020 and 2021.
- 66% of users on India's largest exchange WazirX, are under 35 years old.
Nigeria crypto adoption facts:
- Nigeria has 22 million crypto owners, 10.3% of its population.
- 35% of Nigerian adults invest in crypto, with 52% of them under 30.
- In 2021 alone, Nigeria saw a 2,467% surge in crypto users.
Indonesia crypto adoption facts:
- Indonesia has 12 million crypto users, 4.5% of its population.
- Crypto transaction volume hit IDR 478.5 trillion by mid-2021.
- Gender balance is nearly even, with 51% male and 49% female ownership.
United States crypto adoption facts:
What percentage of Americans own crypto?
- 46 million Americans own crypto, about 13.7% of the population
- 73% of U.S. crypto owners hold Bitcoin, and 82% are aged 18–44.
- 66% of American crypto holders have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Vietnam crypto adoption facts:
- Vietnam has 18.6 million crypto users, nearly 20% of the population.
- Vietnam ranked first globally in crypto adoption for two consecutive years.
- GameFi is booming, with Vietnam being the birthplace of Axie Infinity.
Ukraine crypto adoption facts:
- 6.5 million Ukrainians own crypto, 15.7% of the population.
- Over $100 million in crypto donations have supported Ukraine’s war effort.
- Ukraine was among the first to pass a legal crypto framework.
Philippines crypto adoption facts:
- Nearly 7 million Filipinos own crypto, 6.13% of the population.
- The Philippines is building a 'Crypto Valley of Asia' in Cagayan.
- Bitcoin is most popular, with 46% of owners aged 18–34.
Pakistan crypto adoption facts:
- Over 9 million Pakistanis own crypto, 4.1% of the population.
- Interest surged despite a ban on crypto trading and mining since 2018.
- The government is exploring a national cryptocurrency to fight corruption.
Brazil crypto adoption facts:
- Brazil has 16 million crypto owners, 7.8% of its population.
- Stablecoin trading reached $11.4B in 2021, with Tether leading.
- Brazil is South America’s top crypto market by user count.
UK crypto adoption facts:
- 4.2 million Brits own crypto, 6.2% of the population.
- Majority are aged 18–34, and 46% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Bitcoin is the top choice, owned by over 62% of UK crypto users.
Venezuela crypto adoption facts:
- 2.9 million Venezuelans own crypto, 10.3% of the population.
- Venezuela links its national currency to Bitcoin amid hyperinflation.
- Crypto is now used for aviation training, remittances, and fuel payments.
Argentina crypto adoption facts:
- 2.5 million Argentinians own crypto, 5.6% of the population.
- Crypto is a lifeline amid 50% inflation and capital controls.
- Argentina has one of the highest rates of salaries paid in crypto.
Thailand crypto adoption facts:
- Over 6.2 million Thais own crypto, or 9.3% of the population.
- Thailand leads ASEAN in crypto transaction volume with Vietnam.
- The Bank of Thailand is developing a central bank digital currency.
Canada crypto adoption facts:
- 1.6 million Canadians own crypto, 4.1% of the population.
- 75% of Canadian crypto owners are under 35.
- 62% of respondents want to be paid in crypto within 5 years.
South Korea crypto adoption facts:
- 2 million South Koreans own crypto, 3.9% of the population.
- South Korea powers nearly 30% of global crypto trading volume.
- Crypto is seen as a pathway to prosperity among young Koreans.
China crypto adoption facts:
- 78 million Chinese own crypto, 5.5% of the population.
- China leads in blockchain patents and CBDC development.
- Digital yuan integration with WeChat boosts crypto adoption.
Insights & Implications
- Crypto adoption is reshaping global financial dynamics.
The leading countries in adoption are not traditional financial centers, but high-population, mobile-native economies like India, Vietnam, and Nigeria. For analysts, this signals a redistribution of influence where future market volume and innovation may originate outside legacy hubs. - Macroeconomic instability is a more powerful driver of adoption than regulatory clarity.
In countries facing inflation, currency devaluation, or capital restrictions, crypto is not speculative, it’s functional. This creates conditions where adoption accelerates in response to structural economic weaknesses, not favorable policy. - The next phase of crypto adoption will be defined by the Global South, not Western institutions.
While Western regulation remains slow and cautious, countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are experiencing sharp on-chain and off-chain growth. Analysts tracking long-term user base expansion, fintech disruption, and wallet activity should be reallocating focus accordingly. - Ownership is outpacing legal frameworks in most regions.
A growing number of countries have significant crypto user bases but lack comprehensive regulation. This opens near-term risk but also long-term potential, as legal structures will likely emerge reactively to catch up with grassroots activity. Policy lag is a key variable in adoption models. - Bitcoin’s user curve now mirrors early internet growth but with faster acceleration.
The data suggests we’re witnessing a rare technology adoption trajectory, with crypto users potentially reaching one billion by the end of the decade. For market forecasters and infrastructure builders, the implications are clear: we are still early, but no longer in the experimental phase.
Methodology:
In this context, “Bitcoin use” refers to overall cryptocurrency adoption as measured by Chainalysis, which includes Bitcoin alongside other digital assets and services.
To estimate the number of crypto owners, we used crypto ownership percentages from the Triple A report "Cryptocurrency Adoption is Growing Worldwide" and multiplied them by country population figures from Worldometer.
We fitted a power-law (log–log) regression to historical Bitcoin versus Internet user counts and extrapolated that relationship using forecasted Internet user numbers for 2030.
References:
- Bitcoin Total User Count. https://woocharts.com/bitcoin-total-users/. Accessed 18 May 2025
- "Cryptocurrency Ownership Data – Triple-A." Triple-A – Triple-A, 7 Aug. 2023, https://www.triple-a.io/cryptocurrency-ownership-data
- "Population by Country (2025) - Worldometer." Worldometer, http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/. Accessed 18 May 2025
- Team, Chainalysis. "2024 Global Crypto Adoption Index - Chainalysis." Chainalysis, 11 Sept. 2024, https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-global-crypto-adoption-index/