Bitcoin News Today: Institutional Push Propels U.S. to Crypto Powerhouse

India retained its position as the top global leader in cryptocurrency adoption for the third consecutive year in the 2025 Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index, with the United States rising to second place from fourth in the previous year. This shift is attributed to regulatory clarity around Bitcoin ETFs and stablecoins, which spurred institutional demand and broadened crypto's appeal. The index tracks grassroots adoption across 151 countries and evaluates metrics including on-chain value received, retail and institutional activity, and DeFi usage, all adjusted for GDP per capita and population.

The methodology for the 2025 index introduced an institutional activity sub-index, which captures large-scale transactions over $1 million, reflecting the growing influence of institutional players in the crypto ecosystem. This change was accompanied by the removal of the retail DeFi sub-index, as it was deemed to skew results toward high-volume but low-frequency behaviors. The inclusion of institutional activity has provided a more accurate reflection of adoption, particularly in developed markets where traditional financial institutions are increasingly integrating crypto infrastructure.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region continued to lead in growth, with crypto transaction volumes surging 69% year-over-year to $2.36 trillion. This growth was driven by India, Pakistan, and Vietnam, where crypto adoption is fueled by practical use cases such as remittances, savings, and access to financial services beyond traditional banking. Chainalysis’s Chief Economist Kim Grauer noted that grassroots adoption tends to thrive in regions with pressing real-world needs, even in the absence of favorable regulatory conditions.

North America also saw a notable 49% increase in crypto adoption, reflecting renewed institutional interest bolstered by the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs and clearer regulatory frameworks. The United States remains the largest fiat on-ramp into crypto, with over $4.2 trillion in transaction volume between July 2024 and June 2025. Bitcoin dominated these on-ramps, accounting for over $4.6 trillion in inflows during the period—nearly double the next-highest category.

Emerging trends in stablecoin usage further underscored the evolving crypto landscape. USDT and USDC continued to dominate in terms of transaction volume, but smaller stablecoins like EURC and PYUSD experienced rapid growth, with EURC seeing an 89% monthly increase in volume. This growth is linked to institutional and fintech activity, as well as regulatory developments such as the EU’s MiCA framework and the potential implementation of the U.S. GENIUS Act. Partnerships between traditional financial institutions and crypto platforms are also expanding, as seen in initiatives by Citi, Bank of America, and major fintech firms.

While high-income countries continue to benefit from robust institutional frameworks and regulatory clarity, emerging markets are demonstrating that crypto adoption is not confined to developed economies. Low-income countries, however, face volatility due to factors like policy shocks, connectivity issues, and conflict-related disruptions. Sustained growth in these regions will depend on improvements in financial infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and access to on-ramping mechanisms.

The 2025 report reaffirmed the global and cross-income nature of crypto adoption, with the majority of countries experiencing growth across all four metrics tracked by Chainalysis. This broad-based expansion highlights crypto’s role as a financial tool for both remittances and investment in diverse economic contexts. As institutional and retail adoption converge, the crypto ecosystem is increasingly becoming a mainstream financial infrastructure that bridges traditional and digital economies.

Source:

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

[2] US Crypto Adoption on the Rise Following 'Regulatory ... (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-crypto-adoption-rise-following-120103061.html)

[3] Crypto Adoption, Legalization, and Sovereign Credit Ratings (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S154****32501606X)