Crypto Market Surpasses One Billion Users Amid Shift to Practical Utility

The number of people holding cryptocurrencies worldwide has surpassed one billion, according to a study by Coinpedia Research. The estimated 1.01 billion users represent around 12.2% of the global population, indicating continued growth in the crypto market despite the recent decline in total value from $4.2 trillion at the end of 2025 to around $2.67 trillion.

The shift towards wider adoption is driven by a change in how people use cryptocurrencies. No longer do they rely solely on price appreciation of Bitcoin and other digital assets, but instead are divided between developed markets using ETFs, tokenized funds, and regulated products, and emerging economies focusing on payments, international remittances, commerce between individuals, and protection against local currency devaluation.

The study found that the largest market in absolute numbers is India with an estimated 127 million users, followed by Nigeria with a high proportion of adults using or holding cryptocurrencies at around 47%. The United States remains the primary hub for institutional capital, accounting for 67 million users, mostly investing through visible ETFs.