Report Indicates That Almost 25% of Internet-Connected Adults in Asia May Own Cryptocurrency

Nearly a quarter of adults with internet access might own cryptocurrency in the Asia Pacific region, a report produced by RialCenter stated.

The report, based on a survey of 4,020 people in 10 countries and extrapolated to the broader APAC region, further suggested that crypto adoption is spurred by a lack of access to traditional financial services. Meanwhile, stablecoins are adopted by nearly 18% of adults with internet access in emerging markets in the region.

The speed of ongoing adoption will depend on how easy it is to use digital assets in everyday life, according to the report.

“APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025 indicates that participation is now shaped by usability, integration, and inclusion rather than speculation,” the report highlighted. “Stablecoins, remittances, and tokenized assets are emerging as key components of a digital economy that operates across borders and devices, supported by regulatory frameworks designed to facilitate participation.”

According to the survey, half of adults aware of cryptocurrency intend to use it within the next year or so, despite marginal adoption over the past year. The survey was conducted in India, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Australia, and Japan, with the United Arab Emirates included as a comparable market. Approximately 400 people from each country were surveyed, focusing on adults aged 18 to 64 who have internet access and are familiar with crypto.

One reason for the slow adoption might be that traditional financial services — such as digital bank accounts, remittances, and even bill payments — are relatively easy across the region, compared to the “complexity of wallets, exchanges, and token transfers,” the report noted.

However, an evolving regulatory environment across various countries is fostering growth and adoption, the report suggested.

More than 70% of adults in emerging economies — like the UAE, India, China, the Philippines, and Thailand — state that regulations are important. This figure drops to about 66% in places like Hong Kong, Australia, and Singapore, and falls below 50% in Japan.

“This divergence illustrates differing levels of market confidence. In emerging economies, regulation fills an institutional gap — serving as a proxy for trust and signaling legitimate participation,” the report explained.

“In mature markets, where extensive consumer protections exist, regulation serves less as a bridge to access and more as a means to manage risk.”