How Widely Is Cryptocurrency Used Really?
Cryptocurrency has evolved from a fringe technology into a financial phenomenon that captures headlines and sparks debate. But beyond the hype and speculation, how many people actually use digital currencies in their daily lives? The reality reveals a complex picture of steady growth, regional variations, and evolving use cases that paint cryptocurrency adoption as both promising and limited.
Global Ownership Reaches New Heights
According to recent data, global cryptocurrency ownership reached 659 million people by December 2024, representing a 13% increase from the start of that year. This growth trajectory suggests that roughly one in twelve internet users worldwide now owns some form of digital currency. More specifically, approximately 9.9% of the global internet population holds cryptocurrency, though this figure represents a slight decrease from 10.3% in 2023.
In the United States alone, about 28% of American adults, or approximately 65 million people, own cryptocurrencies as of 2025. This near-doubling of ownership since late 2021 reflects renewed confidence following Bitcoin’s surge to new all-time highs and positive regulatory momentum under the current administration. The demographic breakdown reveals that younger Americans aged 18-34 are the most active cryptocurrency participants, while those over 60 show significantly lower adoption rates.
Regional Variations Tell Different Stories
Cryptocurrency adoption varies dramatically across the globe, driven by diverse economic conditions and regulatory environments. India and the United States lead worldwide crypto adoption according to the 2025 Global Adoption Index, but Turkey presents perhaps the most striking case. An impressive 58% of Turkey’s population owns some form of crypto asset, one of the highest adoption rates in the world.
Eastern Europe has emerged as another hotspot for digital currency usage. Economic uncertainty, distrust in traditional banking institutions, and strong technical literacy have made cryptocurrency an appealing alternative for wealth preservation and cross-border transactions, particularly in countries facing inflation or banking restrictions. Meanwhile, Central and Southern Asia show high levels of activity on local crypto exchanges and within decentralized finance platforms.
Physical Infrastructure Reflects Growing Interest
The expansion of Bitcoin ATMs provides tangible evidence of cryptocurrency’s mainstream push. As of December 2024, over 38,500 Bitcoin ATMs operated worldwide, representing a 6% year-over-year increase. The United States accounted for approximately 81% of all crypto ATM installations worldwide in early 2025, with high concentrations in California, Texas, and Florida. Los Angeles alone hosts over 1,600 machines.
For consumers seeking convenient cryptocurrency access, finding a Miami Bitcoin ATM or similar facilities in other major cities has become increasingly straightforward. A CoinFlip survey found that 74% of users made their first crypto transaction through a crypto kiosk, highlighting these machines’ role as entry points for newcomers. However, growth has been uneven throughout the year, with most installations occurring in the first half of 2024, averaging 485 machines monthly between January and April before slowing to just 34 per month in the latter half.
Payment Adoption Remains Modest but Growing
While cryptocurrency ownership has expanded, its use for everyday transactions tells a more restrained story. Bitcoin commands approximately 42% of all merchant crypto transactions in 2025, maintaining its dominance, while USDT accounts for 30-35% of merchant crypto payments. Overall transaction volume in 2024 increased by 29.6%, with 1.68 million crypto payments processed, and stablecoins accounted for 35.5% of all transactions.
The merchant landscape shows cautious optimism. Approximately 46% of surveyed merchants have integrated cryptocurrency payments into their accepted payment methods. Major corporations including Microsoft, Starbucks, and Subway now accept digital currency payments, signaling mainstream legitimacy. However, cryptocurrency payments still represent less than 0.5% of global e-commerce transaction value, with most cryptocurrency holders treating digital assets primarily as investments rather than spending vehicles.
Stablecoins Drive Practical Usage
One of 2024’s most significant trends was stablecoins overtaking Bitcoin in certain usage categories. In a significant shift, USDT overtook BTC to become the most popular cryptocurrency for payments in 2024, while BTC’s share decreased from 35.6% in 2023 to 22.8% in 2024. This transition reflects stablecoins’ appeal for merchants and consumers seeking cryptocurrency’s technological benefits without extreme price volatility.
Tether (USDT) routinely processed roughly $703 billion per month between June 2024 and June 2025, peaking at $1.01 trillion in June 2025. Smaller stablecoins also showed remarkable growth trajectories, with EURC expanding nearly 76% month-over-month on average. The stablecoin surge has been supported by improved regulatory clarity, particularly the MiCA framework in the European Union and anticipated legislation in the United States.
Investment Remains the Primary Driver
Despite growing payment infrastructure, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that speculation and investment continue to drive cryptocurrency adoption. Approximately 69% of current crypto owners hold their tokens at a realized or unrealized gain in market value. Among current crypto owners, around 67% plan to buy even more cryptocurrency in 2025, indicating sustained confidence in long-term value appreciation.
The investment thesis has been reinforced by institutional adoption. The influx of institutional crypto adoption in 2024, particularly through Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, provided investors access and exposure to these digital assets for the first time. This development has legitimized cryptocurrency in traditional financial circles and contributed to the record-breaking price performance that drove much of 2024’s adoption growth.
The Road Ahead
Cryptocurrency usage in 2025 occupies an interesting middle ground between niche technology and mainstream adoption. While hundreds of millions of people worldwide now own digital currencies and physical infrastructure continues expanding, practical daily use remains limited. Most holders view cryptocurrency primarily as an investment vehicle, with payment adoption growing but still marginal in the broader economy.
The contrast between ownership rates and transaction usage reveals cryptocurrency’s current reality: widely owned but narrowly used. Whether this gap closes in coming years will depend on continued infrastructure development, regulatory clarity, merchant adoption, and whether stablecoins can bridge the divide between speculation and utility. For now, cryptocurrency has clearly moved beyond early adopters, but universal acceptance as a payment method remains an aspiration rather than a present reality.