Cryptocurrency is one of the most talked about economic phenomena of the 21st century, with the digital currencies disrupting the global financial sector and causing ripples in our daily lives.
But where is the cryptocurrency industry heading, and is there a need for you to jump on the crypto bandwagon?
To help you better understand the cryptocurrency space, here is a breakdown of exciting and updated cryptocurrency statistics, facts, and trends.
Top 9 Cryptocurrency Statistics (Editor’s Pick)
- There were over 400 million global cryptocurrency users in November 2022.
- The global cryptocurrency ATM market will be worth $91.8 billion by 2028.
- Bitcoins were the most popular cryptocurrencies traded by hedge funds in 2021.
- Ethereum owners grew 3.6 times between January and December 2022.
- 32% of small businesses in America accepted cryptocurrencies in 2021.
- 72% of American crypto owners in 2022 were male.
- In 2022, 66% of US crypto holders used crypto to generate revenue.
- Nigeria led in global cryptocurrency activity in 2022.
- $8.6 billion worth of cryptocurrencies was laundered in 2021.
Infographic
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General Cryptocurrency Statistics
1. There were over 400 million global cryptocurrency users in November 2022.
This is a 107 million increase in users from December 2021 and a 6 million increase from October 2022. The global crypto user base recorded a 190% growth between 2018 and 2020.
2. Ethereum added approximately 130,000 new users daily in 2023.
At the start of January 2023, Ethereum had 217,599,463 unique user addresses, which rose to 221,365,692 by January 29. Thus, representing an extra 3,766,229 or 129,689/day user growth.
3. Cryptocurrencies are banned in over 50 countries.
Fifty-two countries have some form of crypto ban. Ten countries, including China, Oman, Morocco, Qatar, Bangladesh, Algeria, and Tunisia, have a total crypto ban.
In another 42 countries, including Georgia, Cameroon, Moldova, Chad, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, cryptocurrencies face stiff restrictions, although they are not outrightly banned.
<p><strong>Please include attribution to vpnAlert.com with this graphic.</strong><br><br><a href="https://vpnalert.com/resources/cryptocurrency-statistics/" data-wpel-link="internal"><img src="https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/preferred-stablecoins-crypto-hedge-funds.png" alt="Stablecoins Statistics" width="768" border="0" height="353.90877192982" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="low" srcset="https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/preferred-stablecoins-crypto-hedge-funds-768x354.png 768w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/preferred-stablecoins-crypto-hedge-funds-300x138.png 300w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/preferred-stablecoins-crypto-hedge-funds-1024x472.png 1024w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/preferred-stablecoins-crypto-hedge-funds-1536x708.png 1536w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/preferred-stablecoins-crypto-hedge-funds.png 1710w" sizes="auto"></a></p>
4. USDC was the most preferred stable coin for crypto hedge funds in 2022.
73% of crypto hedge funds used USD Coin (USDC), while 69% used Tether’s USDT. Approximately 28% of crypto hedge funds used UST, and about 25% used DAI.
12% of crypto hedge funds interviewed said they did not use stablecoins.
5. Binance is the largest global cryptocurrency exchange by volume in 2023.
As of January 30, 2023, Binance had a $20.89 billion 24-hour trading volume – the highest of all crypto exchanges in the reporting period.
6. Ethereum recorded the highest ROI growth rate of all cryptocurrencies in 2023.
As of January 25, 2023, Ethereum was selling at $1,606, up from its $0.311 Initial Coin Offering (ICO) on July 22, 2014, representing a 5163.11x growth.
Other cryptos with high ROI growth rates since their ICOs include BNB (2028.40x), IOTA (383.73x), Polygon (379.88x), and COCOS BCX (275.09x).
7. Store of value was the largest investment sector for crypto hedge funds in 2021.
86% of crypto hedge funds were invested in stores of value (BTC, LTC).
DeFi and infrastructure-based crypto investments were in second and third place with 78% and 74%, respectively. The least invested sectors by crypto hedge funds were healthcare and market neutral (stablecoins), which recorded less than 5% each.
8. Bitcoins were the most popular cryptocurrencies traded by hedge funds in 2021.
Over 80% of crypto hedge funds interviewed said they traded in Bitcoins, while 80% traded in Ethereum. Solana, Polkadot, and Terra were other popular cryptos traded by crypto hedge funds at 51%, 48%, and 45%, respectively.
Cryptocurrency Growth Statistics
9. The crypto market capitalization fell in Q4 2022.
Between Q3 and Q4 2022, the crypto market capitalization fell by 15.9%.
10. In Q4 2022, the crypto market “fear” index recorded +6 growth.
The crypto market “fear and greed index” was in the “fear” region for most of Q4 2022. From 20 points in September, the market climbed to 26 points at the end of December 2022.
11. The global cryptocurrency ATM market will be worth $91.8 billion by 2028.
Growing at a 31% CAGR, the crypto ATM market, valued at $18.15 billion in 2022, will rise to $91.8 billion by 2028.
12. The number of cryptocurrencies with market caps over 1 billion fell in Q4 2022.
In Q3 2022, the number of crypto coins with market caps greater than $1 billion was 51, falling to 37 in Q4 2022. The FTX collapse in November 2022 accounted for 24% of the total reduction in crypto coins with over a $1 billion market cap.
13. The crypto market will triple in value by 2030.
At a 12.8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), the crypto market is expected to be worth $4.94 billion by 2030, up from $1.49 billion in 2020.
14. Ethereum owners grew 3.6 times between January and December 2022.
Ethereum owners increased from 24 million in January 2022 to 87 million in December 2022. Additionally, Bitcoin owners grew from 183 million to 219 million in the reporting period, a 20% growth.
15. The global blockchain technology market will grow by 87.7% CAGR.
The global blockchain technology market, valued at $10.02 billion in 2022, is expected to grow at an 87% CAGR between 2023 and 2030.
16. The global cryptocurrency payment apps market will grow by 16.6% CAGR between 2022 and 2030.
The global cryptocurrency payment apps market, valued at $626.4 million in 2022, is expected to reach $2.15 billion in 2030.
Cryptocurrency Adoption Statistics
17. Vietnam led in global cryptocurrency adoption in 2022.
The Philippines was the second country with the highest crypto adoption index. Ukraine, India, the US, and Pakistan followed in that order.
18. In 2022, P2P exchange transactional volume by region was highest in Africa.
Between July 2021 and June 2022, Africa’s P2P exchanges accounted for 6% of all crypto transactions by volume in the region. Central & Southern Asia and Oceania were second with 3.1% (each) of all crypto transactions, while Latin America was third with 1.7%.
<p><strong>Please include attribution to vpnAlert.com with this graphic.</strong><br><br><a href="https://vpnalert.com/resources/cryptocurrency-statistics/" data-wpel-link="internal"><img src="https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/top-3-african-countries-crypto-value-received.png" alt="Top African Countries by Crypto Value Received Statistics" width="768" border="0" height="394.77894736842" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="low" srcset="https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/top-3-african-countries-crypto-value-received-768x395.png 768w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/top-3-african-countries-crypto-value-received-300x154.png 300w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/top-3-african-countries-crypto-value-received-1024x526.png 1024w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/top-3-african-countries-crypto-value-received-1536x790.png 1536w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/top-3-african-countries-crypto-value-received.png 1710w" sizes="auto"></a></p>
19. South Africa led in cryptocurrency value received in Africa.
Between July 2021 and June 2022, South Africa received around $25 billion in cryptocurrencies – the highest in Africa. Nigeria and Kenya followed in crypto value received in the reporting period with approximately $19 billion and $18 billion, respectively.
Cryptocurrency Statistics by Country
20. El Salvador was the most crypto-friendly country in 2022.
In 2021, El Salvador made Bitcoin a legal tender and removed all taxes (income or capital gains tax) on Bitcoin use. Other crypto-friendly countries in the year included Singapore, Portugal, and Malta.
21. 32% of small businesses in America accepted cryptocurrencies in 2021.
The majority of small business owners in the US took crypto because it is the currency of the future (49%), to reach younger generations (44%), because crypto works worldwide (43%), and to acquire new customers (43%).
22. Among US adults, Bitcoin was the most popular cryptocurrency in 2022.
As of June 2022, 75% of US adults owned Bitcoin, while 49% owned Ethereum. Dogecoin was the third most popular cryptocurrency, with 40% of American adults holding them.
| Cryptocurrency | Popularity Among US Adults |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin | 75% |
| Ethereum | 49% |
| Dogecoin | 40% |
| USD Coin | 37% |
| Litecoin | 27% |
| Shiba Inu Coin | 26% |
| Binance Coin | 21% |
23. China held the highest blockchain patents globally in 2021.
According to a 2021 report, China held 84% of the world’s blockchain patents.
The US was second, accounting for 8% of global blockchain patents.
The Cayman Islands, India, and Korea come in third, fourth, and fifth places with 2%, 1%, and 1%, respectively.
24. In 2021, Bitcoin was the most popular cryptocurrency for small businesses in America.
58% of small businesses that accepted cryptocurrencies in the US preferred Bitcoins. Other popular cryptocurrencies for these businesses included Bitcoin cash (36%), Ethereum (35%), Litecoin (28%), and Binance Coin (24%).
25. 72% of American crypto owners in 2022 were male.
Among the American crypto owners, 42% earned under $50,000 annually, while 34% earned between $50,000 and $99,999. Only 25% earned above $100,000.
26. Market volatility was the main reason 50% of small businesses in the US did not accept crypto payments in 2021.
45% of small businesses in America also cited the high risks involved as their main reason for not accepting crypto payments. 36% of companies did not accept crypto payments due to a lack of government backing, while 34% cited needing more crypto knowledge.
<p><strong>Please include attribution to vpnAlert.com with this graphic.</strong><br><br><a href="https://vpnalert.com/resources/cryptocurrency-statistics/" data-wpel-link="internal"><img src="https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/us-crypto-owners-ethnicity.png" alt="US Crypto Owners Statistics" width="768" border="0" height="382.20350877193" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="low" srcset="https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/us-crypto-owners-ethnicity-768x382.png 768w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/us-crypto-owners-ethnicity-300x149.png 300w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/us-crypto-owners-ethnicity-1024x510.png 1024w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/us-crypto-owners-ethnicity-1536x764.png 1536w, https://vpnalert.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/us-crypto-owners-ethnicity.png 1710w" sizes="auto"></a></p>
27. 58% of US crypto owners in 2022 were white.
They were followed by Hispanics (23%), Blacks (12%), and Asians & other ethnicities (6%).
28. In 2022, US crypto owners used more financial services than regular Americans.
23% of US crypto owners sent money outside the country using a provider other than banks or credit unions, compared to 8% of non-crypto owners.
Likewise, 18% of crypto holders cashed cheques through non-banking or credit union entities compared to 7% of non-crypto holders.
29. In 2022, 66% of US crypto holders used crypto to generate revenue.
Additionally, 16% of Americans used crypto to send money or buy things, while 18% used crypto to send money and buy something.
30. 63% of Americans owned crypto to generate money in 2022.
44% of owners claimed that diversifying their asset and investment portfolio was their main reason for owning cryptocurrencies. Another 43% believed crypto was the future of finance.
| Reason for Holding Crypto | Frequency of Holders |
|---|---|
| Make money | 63% |
| Diversify portfolio | 44% |
| Future of finance | 43% |
| Interest in crypto | 36% |
| Enjoy trading | 35% |
31. Nigeria led in global cryptocurrency activity in 2022.
As of June 2022, 55% of Nigerians were buying or selling cryptocurrencies at least once a month. Turkey, Thailand, Pakistan, and Vietnam also recorded high crypto activities during this period.
32. In 2022, 60% of Americans believed investing in cryptocurrency was a “high-risk” venture.
This is a 15% jump from 2021, when 45% of Americans considered crypto investments high risk. 26% of Americans believe investing in cryptos is moderately risky, while 5% believe crypto investing holds no threat.
33. China leads in the number of crypto owners globally.
As of January 4, 2023, China led in global crypto ownership, with roughly 194 million crypto owners representing 13% of the Chinese population owning cryptocurrencies. India was second with over 157 million crypto owners, representing 11.5% of the Indian population.
The table below shows crypto ownership in different countries as of January 4, 2023.
| Country | Total Crypto Ownership |
|---|---|
| China | 194,458,913 (13% of the population) |
| India | 157,551,750 (11.5% of the population) |
| The United States | 44,299,128 (13.22% of the population) |
| Vietnam | 25,883,924 (26% of the population) |
| Brazil | 17,810,082 (8.3% of the population) |
34. In 2022, millennials owned the most cryptocurrency in the US.
As of June 2022, 42% of American crypto owners were millennials.
Gen Xers, Gen Z, and baby boomers made up 28%, 18%, and 12% of US cryptocurrency holders, respectively.
Cryptocurrency Scam Financial Statistics
35. Global crypto crime increased between 2020 and 2021.
In 2020, the total cryptocurrency value received by illicit addresses was $7.8 billion, which rose to $14 billion in 2021. The entire crypto value received by illegal addresses in 2021 was higher than in 2019 ($11.7 billion) and 2018 ($4.4 billion).
36. $8.6 billion worth of cryptocurrencies was laundered in 2021.
This figure is much higher than the $6.6 billion laundered in 2020 but lower than the $10.9 billion laundered in 2019.
37. Total volume of cryptocurrency transactions to illicit addresses fell in 2021.
In 2021, 0.15% of all cryptocurrency transactions by volume went to illicit addresses, lower than 0.62% in 2020, 3.37% in 2019, and 0.76% in 2018.
38. Scams accounted for the loss of $7.7 billion worth of cryptocurrency in 2021.
The total scam value in 2021 represents an 81% rise from 2020 (less than $5 billion) but was lower than in 2019 (almost $10 billion). 2021 saw an increase in “rug pulls” than the previous years.
39. The number of active crypto scam wallet addresses rose in 2021.
In 2021, 3,300 unique addresses were involved in crypto scams.
That is compared to 2,052 addresses in 2020 and less than 1,000 addresses in 2019.
40. The average lifespan of crypto scams was reduced in 2021.
In 2013, the average crypto scam was active for approximately 2,369 days.
This number has dropped drastically to 192 days in 2020 and 70 days in 2021.
Protect Your Digital Currency
Cryptocurrency is slowly becoming the new normal in our daily lives as technology evolves and the traditional financial landscape gets redefined.
To reap the maximum benefits of this financial revolution, it is best to learn everything there is to know.
An excellent place to start is with our guide to the most recent and essential Bitcoin statistics, Facts, and Trends.
- 75+ Incredible Cryptocurrency Statistics (2023) (explodingtopics.com)
- Cryptocurrency Statistics 2023: How Many People Use Crypto? (earthweb.com)
- 18 Essential Cryptocurrency Stats for 2023 (influencermarketinghub.com)
- 63+ Cryptocurrency Statistics, Facts & Trends (2023) (buybitcoinworldwide.com)
- US Cryptocurrency ownership stats and trends for 2022 (insiderintelligence.com)
- Cryptocurrency users worldwide 2016-2022 | Statista
- The Crypto Report: Our Analysts on the State of Cryptocurrency (morningconsult.com)
- CNBC|Momentive Poll MakeIt: Your Money Results | Momentive
- Global Cryptocurrency Ownership Data 2023 – TripleA (triple-a.io)
- Cryptocurrency Market Size, Share and Analysis | Forecast – 2030 (alliedmarketresearch.com)
- 230119_cryptocom_Crypto Market Sizing 2022
- https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/global-crypto-atm-market-size-and-value-to-reach-usd-91800-million-growing-at-cagr-of-31-forecast-period-2022-2028
- The Most Crypto-Friendly Countries in 2022 | Alexandria (coinmarketcap.com)
- Top 5 cryptocurrencies ranked by ROI since initial coin offering (finbold.com)
- Cryptocurrency Payment Apps Market Size, Share & Trend Analysis Report by Cryptocurrency Type, by Payment Type, by Operating System, by End User, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030 (researchandmarkets.com)
- Global share of blockchain patents by country 2021 | Statista
- The U.S. Congress Twiddled Its Thumbs on Crypto while 10 Countries Banned It and 42 Others Placed Heavy Restrictions – CounterPunch.org
- 4th Annual Global Crypto Hedge Fund Report 2022 (pwc.com)
- Crypto-Crime-Report-2022.pdf (chainalysis.com)
