Bitcoin News Today: India's Crypto Surge Defies Regulation, Driven by Real-World Utility

India has solidified its position at the forefront of global cryptocurrency adoption for the third consecutive year, according to the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index published by Chainalysis. The report, which evaluates on-chain and off-chain data to assess grassroots adoption, ranks India as the top country across all four sub-indices: retail and institutional adoption at centralized services, and institutional activity at centralized services. This dominance underscores the nation’s robust engagement with cryptocurrency services, driven by a combination of a tech-savvy population, a large diaspora, and the increasing utility of crypto in remittances and savings.

The APAC region, led by India, Pakistan, and Vietnam, saw the most significant year-on-year growth in crypto activity, increasing by 69% to a total value received of $2.36 trillion in the 12 months ending June 2025. This outpaced the growth of other regions, including Latin America (63%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (52%), where crypto continues to play a vital role in remittances and everyday transactions. North America and Europe remain the largest in terms of absolute value received, with North America showing a 49% growth year-over-year, driven largely by the adoption of spot Bitcoin ETFs and clearer institutional frameworks.

The United States, in particular, rose to second place in the global rankings, a result of increased regulatory clarity and the growing institutional interest in crypto. Kim Grauer, Chainalysis’s chief economist, highlighted that regulatory frameworks are especially important for traditional financial institutions, which prioritize compliance and reputational considerations. The U.S. has seen significant inflows into Bitcoin ETFs, with over $54.5 billion in total inflows since January 2024, primarily from June to July 2024. This trend reflects the broader shift in institutional activity toward crypto as a legitimate asset class.

Despite India’s regulatory challenges, the country’s grassroots adoption has remained resilient. Chainalysis noted that real-world utility—such as stablecoins for remittances and savings in inflation-prone economies—continues to drive adoption, even in the absence of favorable regulatory conditions. This utility-driven approach has positioned India as a global leader in both retail and institutional crypto activity, further cementing its role in the broader adoption narrative across the Asia-Pacific region.

When examining crypto adoption on a per-capita basis, Eastern Europe emerged as a standout region. Countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia led the list, driven by factors such as economic uncertainty, distrust in traditional financial institutions, and strong technical literacy. These conditions have made crypto an appealing alternative for wealth preservation and cross-border transactions, particularly in countries affected by inflation, conflict, or banking restrictions.

Bitcoin remains the primary entry point for new users, accounting for over $4.6 trillion in fiat inflows in the 12-month period studied. This far surpasses the next categories, including Layer 1 tokens and stablecoins, highlighting the enduring dominance of Bitcoin as the foundational asset in the crypto ecosystem. The U.S. accounted for the largest share of on-ramp volume, with over $4.2 trillion, while South Korea followed with $1 trillion in inflows. In regions like the U.K. and the EU, Bitcoin’s share of fiat purchases was particularly strong, reflecting both institutional and retail demand.

Source: [1] 2025 Global Adoption Index (https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2025-global-crypto-adoption-index/) [2] US rises to 2nd in crypto adoption as APAC sees most growth (https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-second-in-crypto-adoption-india-leads-all-chainalysis)