Bitcoin News Today: Global South Surpasses West as Crypto’s New Epicenter

India, the United States, and Pakistan have emerged as the leading nations in global cryptocurrency adoption for 2025, according to the latest Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index. The report, which evaluates on- and off-chain data across 151 countries, highlights a continued shift in crypto activity toward the Global South, with the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region maintaining its position as the fastest-growing hub for grassroots crypto engagement [1].

India retained its top spot for the third consecutive year, leading in all four sub-indices: retail and institutional centralized service value received, as well as DeFi and institutional DeFi activity. The country’s robust adoption is attributed to a combination of factors, including a tech-savvy population, a large diaspora driving crypto remittances, and the use of stablecoins for everyday transactions and savings in inflation-prone economies. Despite regulatory challenges, India’s crypto transaction volume grew significantly, contributing to APAC’s 69% year-over-year increase in value received, from $1.4 trillion to $2.36 trillion [1].

The United States rose to second place, a jump from fourth in the previous year, driven by regulatory clarity and the approval of multiple spot Bitcoin ETFs. These developments have helped institutional investors gain confidence in the crypto market and legitimize digital assets within traditional financial channels. The U.S. now serves as the world’s largest on-ramp for fiat-to-crypto transactions, with over $4.2 trillion in volume during the 12 months ending June 2025 [1].

Pakistan climbed six places to third in the rankings, reflecting a surge in both retail and institutional crypto activity. The South Asian nation legalized cryptocurrencies in late 2024 and has since announced plans to create a National Crypto Council to regulate the sector. Vietnam and Brazil followed in fourth and fifth positions, with Vietnam recently enacting a new digital tech law to formalize crypto governance and cybersecurity protocols [1].

The report also emphasized the importance of Bitcoin as the primary entry point into the crypto ecosystem, with over $4.6 trillion in fiat inflows during the reporting period. The U.S. and South Korea were the largest contributors to this trend, with the U.S. accounting for the vast majority of volume. While the U.S. saw strong Bitcoin adoption, the U.K. and European Union had higher Bitcoin dominance in fiat on-ramps, with nearly 45-47% of transactions directed toward the asset. This contrast highlights varying investor behaviors and regulatory environments across regions [1].

When adjusted for population, the adoption landscape shifted significantly. Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia topped the list, driven by high crypto activity relative to their population sizes. Economic uncertainty, distrust in traditional banking systems, and strong technical literacy appear to underpin crypto adoption in these Eastern European countries. The use of crypto for wealth preservation and cross-border transactions is particularly notable in nations facing inflation or banking restrictions [1].

Looking ahead, India is set to adopt the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) by April 2027, aligning with global efforts to increase transparency and enforce tax compliance on offshore digital assets. This move will require Indian crypto exchanges and service providers to report detailed transaction data to local tax authorities, effectively making it harder for residents to hide crypto earnings from foreign exchanges. South Korea is also adopting similar rules, with plans to begin domestic data collection in 2026 and expand international reporting by 2027 [3].

The 2025 index underscores a broader trend of global crypto adoption expanding across income levels and regions. While high-income nations continue to lead in absolute transaction volumes, middle- and lower-income countries are showing increasingly robust growth, particularly in APAC and Latin America. This pattern suggests that crypto adoption is not solely driven by institutional investment or regulatory clarity but is also being fueled by local needs such as remittances, savings, and access to financial tools [1].

Source:

[1] The 2025 Global Adoption Index (https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2025-global-crypto-adoption-index/)

[2] US Second In Crypto Adoption On ETFs, Regulatory Clarity (https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-second-in-crypto-adoption-india-leads-all-chainalysis)

[3] India Joins OECD: Will Begin Sharing Crypto Transaction (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/india-joins-oecd-begin-sharing-160336522.html)