Over 860 million people around the world already own digital assets, using them to pay, save, and send money across borders.
Back in 2016, Cambridge researchers guessed there were maybe a few million crypto users worldwide. In 2017, Snapchat’s first investor, Jeremy Liew, made a “bold” call: 400 million users by 2030. Cute. Those early forecasts aged about as well as AOL free trial CDs. Can we predict it more precisely now, though aiming for obviously a higher number?
2024 Market Momentum
The surge in 2025 builds on strong 2024 momentum. Significant 13% increase in global crypto owners, rising from 583 million to 659 million. Bitcoin owners grew 13.1%, Ethereum 13.6%, together representing over 70% of global holders.
Yet we reached a point when Momentum for crypto adoption is accelerating, and the numbers tell the story. Raoul Pal, CEO of Global Macro Investor and Real Vision, projects that the global user base could climb to 4 billion by 2030, nearly half the planet. His forecast isn’t just a guess: Pal compared the growth of crypto wallets against IP addresses, showing adoption has surged at an average of 137% annually over the past nine years. By contrast, the internet at the same stage of development grew at just 76% per year, reaching 187 million users by 2000. The pace is set to cool, but only slightly. Pal expects a moderated 43% growth rate in 2025, which would still push the user base past 1 billion, about one in every eight people on Earth. He also believes crypto’s market cap could eventually top $100 trillion within the next decade, powered by two mega-forces: adoption and debasement. In his view, inflation explains most of the price action, but adoption explains the outperformance.
Regional Adoption and Technology in Action
The trends suggest it’s not just possible, it’s already happening, though adoption looks different depending on where you are, but technology is the engine behind the growth. In North America, crypto adoption is fueled by curiosity and experimentation, supported by intuitive wallets and applications that make payments and investments accessible. Asia leads in numbers, powered by fintech innovation, mobile-first solutions, and enterprise integration that introduces more people to crypto daily. Across Africa, remittance apps and mobile-first platforms bypass traditional banks, offering millions access to financial services. Europe continues steady adoption, supported by regulatory clarity, institutional integration, and experiments with CBDCs and for the Latin American region, crypto acts as a hedge against volatile currencies, with Layer 2 networks and mobile wallets making trading faster and cheaper.
Technological upgrades amplify adoption everywhere. Yes, challenges remain: regulation, volatility, and public trust are all hurdles. But the trajectory is clear and could be even steeper.
Looking Ahead
Regional demand, technological innovation, and regulatory clarity are converging to make crypto practical and accessible worldwide. Networks are faster, safer, and easier to navigate, and digital assets are moving beyond speculation into mainstream finance.
One thing is more or less clear: there is no way back for Crypto anymore.
Anastasiia G
Disclaimer: All materials on this site are for informational purposes only. None of the material should be interpreted as investment advice. Please note that despite the nature of much of the material created and hosted on this website, HODL FM is not a financial reference resource, and the opinions of authors and other contributors are their own and should not be taken as financial advice. If you require advice. HODL FM strongly recommends contacting a qualified industry professional.
