Crypto Ownership & Interest by Country: A Report by Investing in the Web

Over the last decade, cryptocurrencies have grown exponentially from a niche experiment to a global phenomenon that has captured the attention of mainstream investors. 

In this report, we aim to analyse cryptocurrency ownership by country, which refers to individuals or entities that hold and possess cryptocurrencies in their digital wallets or accounts. 

While no official source outlines these statistics, we have gathered data from reputable sources to estimate them. We examined two different studies, TripleA and GWI, which provide different estimates of cryptocurrency ownership by country.

We also checked the search volume on Google for certain keywords in those countries to further validate their findings.

Some of the key findings of this report include:

• India, China, and the United States are the top 3 countries with crypto ownership;
• No official numbers on crypto ownership by country; however, estimations indicate a higher rate of cryptocurrency ownership in countries with young, tech-savvy populations.
• Countries undergoing high inflation or financial crises have higher crypto ownership rates, such as Turkey and Argentina, than other countries.
• Institutional investors are increasingly investing in cryptocurrencies, as evidenced by the recent launch of several cryptocurrency-focused ETFs and mutual funds.

Crypto Ownership by Country according to TripleA

According to this study, the global crypto ownership rates are estimated to be around 4.2%, encompassing more than 420 million crypto users worldwide.

Top countries with significant crypto ownership include India, China, and the United States as of 2024. TripleA’s Global Crypto Ownership study employs a methodology that includes Country Weighted Scoring, Global Weighted Scoring, Outlier Research, and Primary Data Collection. These metrics are utilised to comprehensively understand crypto ownership trends, drawing from various data sources. It should be noted that some of the data used in the study are sourced from third-party providers and normalised to reach the final estimations.

After checking the study’s findings, concerns arise regarding the reliability of estimations for specific countries. Surprisingly, European countries like the Netherlands and Portugal, known for their vibrant crypto communities, are absent from the top 50 list despite their substantial crypto adoption rates reported in other studies. Conversely, some countries with lower internet penetration rates are included in the top 50 list, surpassing well-developed nations with higher crypto adoption and transaction usage.

Crypto Ownership by Country according to GWI

Both Triple A’s study and GWI’s research highlight that the United States, Vietnam, and Brazil now rank among the countries with the largest number of crypto owners globally. Notably, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the highest percentage of crypto ownership among internet users, with 27.18% of its online population holding cryptocurrency, according to GWI’s latest findings.

GWI’s research on crypto ownership is based on a methodology involving online questionnaires as part of their Core data set, reaching over 700,000 internet users annually. The figures presented in this report refer specifically to the online population of each market rather than the total national population.

While GWI’s research provides valuable insights into crypto ownership trends across digital populations, it is important to consider the limitations of this methodology. Since the data is drawn from internet users, it may underrepresent or miss crypto adoption trends among offline individuals or certain age groups. Furthermore, survey-based methods inherently carry potential biases and sampling exclusions. Nonetheless, this data offers a strong foundation for understanding broader patterns in global crypto adoption.

Crypto Interest by Country

To gain insights into the crypto industry’s interest, we examined the average monthly search volume for specific keywords, including “Bitcoin,” “Bitcoin Price,” “Cryptocurrency,” and “Crypto Wallet.” These keywords reflect the level of interest in cryptocurrencies within a country and can indicate cryptocurrency ownership, although it is not the sole determining factor. We compiled in the below table the data for the top 50 countries mentioned in both studies.

Interestingly, the US and India are still among the top 3 countries. Moreover, several other countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Turkey, and Canada, exhibited remarkably high monthly search volumes, each surpassing 1 million searches on those keywords per month. It is also important to note that China was not included in this study.

Factors Influencing Crypto Ownership

The adoption of cryptocurrencies is increasing among countries, and more people are now owning them. However, several factors influence this trend. Here is a brief analysis of these factors:

• Economic Factors: Economic conditions play a significant role in influencing crypto ownership by country. In regions facing economic instability or currency devaluation, individuals and businesses may turn to cryptocurrencies as an alternative store of value or investment option. Additionally, countries with limited access to traditional financial services may embrace cryptocurrencies for their accessibility and borderless nature.
• Regulatory Environment: The regulatory landscape can heavily impact crypto ownership trends. Countries with clear and favorable cryptocurrency regulations tend to foster a more friendly environment for adoption. On the contrary, stringent or uncertain regulations may deter potential crypto users due to concerns about legality and security.
• Technological Infrastructure: Countries with widespread internet access and advanced digital payment systems are more likely to see higher levels of crypto adoption. 
• Socio-Cultural Factors: Cultural attitudes towards finance, technology, and innovation can influence the acceptance and adoption of cryptocurrencies. Additionally, awareness and education about blockchain and digital assets within a society can contribute to the interest in and understanding of cryptocurrencies.

These are just some of the factors that affect the adoption of cryptocurrencies. The importance of each factor may vary depending on the country and the individual.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding crypto ownership trends has major implications for the cryptocurrency market. Identifying regions with high crypto ownership rates can help businesses and investors identify potential growth markets and tailor their strategies accordingly. 

Although estimating crypto ownership can be difficult due to the decentralized and anonymous nature of cryptocurrencies, the studies and analysis in this report have revealed intriguing insights into the global crypto landscape. Certain countries have emerged as leaders in crypto ownership, such as India. China and the United States. Additionally, Turkey and Brazil were mentioned in several studies as being among the top countries with crypto ownership, while others exhibit a significant interest in cryptocurrencies, indicating the potential for further adoption and expanded ownership.