MENA Crypto Volume Estimated to Reach $350 Billion by 2025-2026

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is expected to see a significant increase in cryptocurrency trading, with estimated annual on-chain transaction volumes reaching $350 billion by 2025-2026.

This represents a tripling of the current volume of $100 billion, driven primarily by Saudi Arabia's 154% year-over-year growth. The country's high smartphone adoption rate and young population have created fertile ground for circumventing regulatory frameworks deemed outdated.

Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are also contributing to the region's crypto growth, with Turkey accounting for about $200 billion in annual exchanges due to chronic inflation driving households towards digital dollars. The UAE is expected to reach a volume of $150 billion by 2025, with Bitcoin making up 38% of exchanges.

The rapid growth in the MENA region has been fueled by a connected youth raised on mobile applications and reluctant to wait for regulatory approval to open digital wallets. However, this trend also poses a risk that neighboring countries may be outpaced by those choosing to regulate rather than prohibit crypto trading.