India's Mobile-First Revolution Fuels Global Crypto Dominance

Generated by AI AgentCoin World
Friday, Sep 5, 2025 11:27 am ET1min read
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Aime RobotAime Summary

- India retained top global crypto adoption spot in 2025, leading in retail/institutional services and DeFi engagement via grassroots mobile-first adoption.

- APAC became fastest-growing crypto market with 69% YoY growth, driven by India, Vietnam, and Pakistan's $2.36T transaction volume.

- U.S. rose to second globally, surpassing 2024's fourth place, fueled by ETFs and regulatory clarity boosting $2.2T North American transaction volume.

- Europe saw 42% crypto growth to $2.6T, sustained by institutional participation and regulatory frameworks despite slower pace than North America.

- Emerging markets drove adoption through mobile wallets and stablecoins, addressing banking gaps and enabling remittances in countries like Pakistan and Nigeria.

India maintained its position at the top of the global crypto adoption rankings for the second consecutive year in 2025, according to the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index report by Chainalysis. The country outperformed others across all key metrics, including retail and institutional crypto services and decentralized finance (DeFi) engagement. This leadership is attributed to widespread adoption at the grassroots level, particularly in mobile-first financial services and stablecoin usage for dollar access [1].

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region emerged as the fastest-growing market for crypto activity, with on-chain transaction volume rising 69% year-over-year in the 12 months through June 2025. Total crypto transaction volume in APAC reached $2.36 trillion, up from $1.4 trillion, driven largely by India, Vietnam, and Pakistan. This growth underscores crypto's expanding role in remittances and cross-border financial services in emerging markets [1].

The United States climbed to the second-highest position in global crypto adoption, surpassing its fourth-place ranking in 2024. This growth was supported by regulatory clarity and increased institutional participation, particularly with the introduction of spot

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ETFs. North America as a whole experienced a 49% growth in crypto transaction volume, with the U.S. contributing significantly to that rise. Total transaction volume in North America exceeded $2.2 trillion [1].

Meanwhile, Europe recorded a 42% year-over-year increase in crypto activity, with total transaction volume surpassing $2.6 trillion. The region’s growth, while slightly lower than North America’s, reflects steady expansion from an already high base. The report highlighted the role of institutional investors and regulatory frameworks in sustaining Europe’s crypto adoption momentum [1].

Emerging markets, particularly in the APAC region, continued to drive crypto adoption through mobile-first platforms and decentralized services. Countries like Pakistan, Vietnam, Brazil, and Nigeria followed India in the overall adoption ranking, demonstrating the broader appeal of crypto as a tool for financial inclusion and remittance solutions [1].

Chainalysis noted that the increase in crypto adoption in these markets is closely tied to factors such as limited access to traditional banking services, the need for stable financial instruments like stablecoins, and the rise of mobile wallets. These factors are especially pronounced in countries with younger populations and digital-first financial behaviors. The firm emphasized that while institutional and regulatory developments in developed markets are significant, it is the grassroots adoption in emerging economies that is shaping the trajectory of the global crypto landscape [1].

Source: [1] India leads global crypto adoption, APAC emerges as fastest-growing market (https://www.theblock.co/post/369420/india-leads-global-crypto-adoption-chainalysis)