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African countries with the highest crypto ownership

Published

2 weeks ago

February 10, 2025

African countries with the highest crypto ownership

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.

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.