The global adoption of cryptocurrencies has surged, with the number of crypto owners worldwide reaching 562 million, marking a 34% increase from 2023. This impressive growth signifies that approximately 6.8% of the global population now owns digital assets.
Key Findings from the Triple-A Report
- Global Ownership Increase: The number of cryptocurrency owners globally rose from 420 million in 2023 to 562 million in 2024.
- Regional Breakdown:
- Asia: Leads the growth with a 21.8% increase, from 268.2 million to 326.8 million owners.
- North America: Witnessed a 38.6% rise from 52.1 million to 72.2 million owners.
- South America: Recorded the highest growth at 116.5%, rising from 25.5 million to 55.2 million owners.
- Europe: Saw a 60.3% increase, from 30.7 million to 49.2 million owners.
- Africa: Experienced a modest increase of 8.5%, from 40.1 million to 43.5 million owners.
- Oceania: Nearly doubled its ownership, from 1.4 million to 3.0 million, a 114.3% increase.
Demographic Insights
- Age Distribution:
- The largest group of crypto owners falls within the 25–34 age range, comprising 34%.
- The 35–44 age group follows closely at 31%.
- Gender Distribution:
- 61% of global cryptocurrency owners are male.
- 39% are female.
Factors Driving the Surge
Experts attribute the increase in cryptocurrency ownership to several factors, including establishing clear regulatory guidelines by agencies such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the European Union. These guidelines have boosted market integrity and investor confidence.
Methodology
Triple-A compiled the report using a combination of Country Weighted Scoring, Outlier Research, and Primary Data Collection, ensuring the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the statistics.
Specific Country Insights
- Nigeria: Leads Africa in cryptocurrency ownership, with 47% of the population (22 million people) owning digital assets. This positions Nigeria as the 11th highest in global crypto ownership, ahead of Kenya, ranked 19th.
Challenges in Africa
- Regulatory Hurdles: Crypto regulation remains a significant challenge in Africa. In Nigeria, authorities are currently in conflict with Binance Limited, leading to the detention of Binance executives and moves to ban peer-to-peer trading on cryptocurrency exchanges, accusing them of manipulating the local currency.
