Back in 2008, an anonymous figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, in a whitepaper titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.
It was a radical idea, money that didn’t need banks, governments, or middlemen to function. Instead, it relied on a decentralized network, cryptography, and blockchain technology.
At first, only tech geeks and cypherpunks paid attention. But over time, crypto went from a niche internet experiment to a global financial revolution.
Today, around 562 million people worldwide own some form of digital currency, a massive jump from 420 million in 2023. This means 6.8% of the global population now holds and uses cryptocurrencies, according to Triple-A.
Asia continues to lead the charge, with ownership soaring from 268.2 million to 326.8 million, marking a 21.8% increase.
In North America, crypto adoption is growing fast, with the number of holders rising from 52.1 million to 72.2 million, a 38.6% jump.
When it comes to gender, men still dominate the crypto space, making up 61% of holders, while women account for 39%.
However, among younger crypto investors (aged 18-24), the gap is much smaller, with just a 2% difference between male and female ownership.
Age-wise, the biggest group of crypto owners is 25-34 years old, making up 34% of holders, followed closely by the 35-44 age group at 31%.
Meanwhile, Africa’s crypto adoption continues to grow, increasing from 40.1 million to 43.5 million users, an 8.5% rise. But despite this steady climb, the continent has faced regulatory roadblocks.
Recently, Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, struggled in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and the second-largest crypto-owning nation on the continent.
Below are the top 10 African countries with the highest crypto ownership:
| Rank | Country | Crypto ownership |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
South Africa |
10.0% |
|
2 |
Nigeria |
5.9% |
|
3 |
Kenya |
5.1% |
|
4 |
Egypt |
3.0% |
|
5 |
Tanzania |
2.4% |
