As of 2024, global cryptocurrency ownership is estimated at an average of 6.8% of the world population, with over 560 million people owning cryptocurrency, according to Triple-A, a cryptocurrency payments company.
As the price of bitcoin has more than doubled this year, global crypto ownership has increased by 33% since 2023 alone. From 2018 to 2023, the growth rate for cryptocurrency ownership surpassed that of several payment giants such as American Express. This is mainly due to increasing investor confidence and more supportive regulatory environments.
South America has seen the sharpest growth in crypto ownership, rising by 116.5% since 2023. Argentina has the highest ownership rates, at 18.9% of the population, as the country faces persistent hyperinflation. Brazil, with ownership rates of 17.5%, follows next in line, supported by several regional crypto exchanges and strong regulations.
In North America, supported by the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in the country in early 2024, ownership rates increased by 38.6% amid strong investor demand. Of the top 10 corporate holders of Bitcoin, seven are based in America. Going further, BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF is the fastest-growing ETF in history, reaching $50bn in assets in just over nine months.
Meanwhile, more than half of crypto owners worldwide are based in Asia. Singapore ranks highest globally in crypto adoption, with nearly a quarter of the residents owning crypto. This strong level of adoption is underpinned by government initiatives and substantial investment, along with big banks embracing cryptocurrencies.
