India and the United States lead global crypto adoption as digital asset use grows across payments, remittances, and institutional finance. APAC recorded the fastest on-chain growth, while US regulation may add pressure on India to move beyond its tax-led crypto approach.
India and the United States are leading global cryptocurrency adoption as digital asset use expands across payments, remittances, trading, and corporate finance, according to a report by NFT Plazas.
The report, citing the Chainalysis 2025 Global Adoption Index, said both countries remain at the front of the adoption race. It also comes as the United States works on clearer crypto rules, while India still operates without a full law for the sector.
APAC Drives the Fastest Growth
Asia-Pacific recorded the fastest growth in on-chain crypto activity over the 12 months ending June 2025. The region received $2.36 trillion in on-chain value, up 69% from $1.4 trillion a year earlier.
India, Vietnam and Pakistan helped drive that rise. Moreover, South Asia became the fastest-expanding crypto adoption region between January and July 2025 with an 80% year-on-year increase and nearly $300 billion in transaction volume.
India’s strong position reflects steady retail trading, mobile access and wider use of digital assets. However, the country still depends on taxation and compliance rules instead of a complete crypto framework.
The US market also recorded strong activity. According to TRM data cited in the report, US crypto transaction volume crossed $1 trillion between January and July 2025 up nearly 50% from the same period last year.
Remittances and Young Users Lift Crypto Adoption
The report also pointed to rising crypto use in emerging markets. In the Philippines, crypto ownership climbed to nearly 16 million users in 2025 largely supported by remittance activity.
El Salvador continued to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender. The report said 85% of small businesses in the country reportedly accept Bitcoin as payment.
Furthermore, Sub-Saharan African countries received more than $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025. That marked a 52% increase from the previous year.
Nigeria remained a key market in the region. The report said 74% of crypto holders in the country are under the age of 30, showing the role of younger users in adoption.
Merchants and Firms Add Crypto Options
Merchant acceptance also grew in the United States. A January 2026 survey by PayPal and the National Cryptocurrency Association found that 39% of US merchants had already added crypto payment options.
The same survey found that 79% of merchants believe crypto can help attract new customers. However, broader use may still depend on clearer tax rules, faster settlement and lower price swings.
In addition, corporate interest is rising. A second-quarter 2025 North American CFO Signals survey showed that 23% of CFOs expect treasury departments to use cryptocurrency for investments or payments within two years.
Among companies with annual revenue above $10 billion, that figure rose to nearly 40%. Meanwhile, UBS Group AG began evaluating crypto access for retail investors in the first quarter of 2026.
US Crypto Bill Puts Focus on India
The proposed US crypto bill seeks to classify digital assets and define how regulators oversee the market. It also deals with control over the future structure of digital finance.
The US move toward clearer crypto regulation could put added pressure on India to define its own rules. India has one of the world’s largest digital asset markets, yet exchanges, investors and token issuers continue to operate without a full regulatory framework.
Younger users remain a major force behind global crypto growth. The report placed the average crypto user age at 34.8 years by the end of 2025. In the United States, Millennials accounted for 57% of crypto ownership, while Generation Z became the fastest-growing group of crypto investors.
The report also pointed to stronger female participation in selected markets. Indonesia led Southeast Asia on this measure, with women representing 46% of its crypto users as of the third quarter of 2025.
