APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025: Stablecoins, Tokenization & Integration

Access is the new adoption.

Asia Pacific remains the global centre of gravity for digital asset adoption.

Our latest report with CoinDesk, APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025: Stablecoins, Tokenization & Integration, shows that approximately 535 million adults across the region now own or use cryptocurrency, accounting for nearly three quarters of global crypto owners.

But the story is changing.

Awareness is now near universal. Optimism remains strong. Regulation is maturing. The next phase of growth will be defined by something more practical: access.

Across ten markets, the evidence shows that participation is shaped less by belief alone and more by whether people can easily reach, understand, trust, and use digital assets in everyday financial life.

When digital assets feel simple, useful, and integrated into systems people already trust, adoption accelerates. When they remain complex, unfamiliar, or disconnected from daily habits, participation slows.

About the report

Developed by Protocol Theory in partnership with CoinDesk, this report provides an evidence-led view of how digital asset adoption across Asia Pacific is moving from awareness to accessibility.

Drawing on Protocol Theory’s quantitative research with more than 4,000 internet-connected adults aged 18 to 64 across ten markets, the study examines how consumers are engaging with cryptocurrency, stablecoins, remittances, tokenized real-world assets, and the integration of digital assets with traditional finance.

The report builds on the 2024 edition by focusing on the practical foundations of the region’s digital economy: usability, integration, trust, and inclusion. It shows that while belief in digital assets remains strong, future growth depends on whether people can use these tools confidently within the financial systems they already rely on.

Key findings

◾ APAC continues to lead global digital asset adoption.

An estimated 24.3% of internet-connected adults across APAC now own or use cryptocurrency, representing around 535 million people.

◾ Awareness is near universal, but participation still lags.

Around 95% of adults across the region are aware of cryptocurrency, yet far fewer actively use it. This gap points to access, usability, and confidence as the next major growth barriers.

◾ Stablecoins are becoming practical financial infrastructure.

Around 17.0% of internet-connected adults across APAC now use stablecoins, with adoption in emerging markets roughly three times higher than in developed economies.

◾ Accessibility remains the largest behavioral bottleneck.

Nearly half of adults say stablecoins are difficult to access, and only a small share believe they are easily accessible.

◾ Improving access could unlock significant latent demand.

Among crypto non-users in emerging markets, 63% say they would be more likely to engage with digital assets if they were easier to access.

◾ Consumers increasingly expect digital assets and traditional finance to work together.

Across APAC, 59% believe it should be easier to move money between digital and traditional financial platforms, while 71% want closer cooperation between regulators, banks, and exchanges.

Why this matters

Digital asset adoption is entering a more mature phase.

The challenge is no longer simply building awareness or proving that the technology has potential. The challenge is making digital assets usable, trusted, and relevant in everyday financial contexts.

This has major implications for exchanges, wallets, fintechs, banks, payment providers, regulators, and digital asset infrastructure companies.

The next wave of growth will come from products that reduce friction, simplify language, improve confidence, and embed digital assets into familiar financial experiences. Stablecoins, remittances, tokenized assets, and bank-integrated digital asset services all point toward the same broader shift: digital assets are becoming part of the financial system, rather than sitting adjacent to it.

The central insight

Access is the new adoption.

Progress will be measured by how easily people can discover, understand, and use digital assets in the flow of daily life.

For industry leaders, this means the opportunity is no longer only about innovation. It is about experience. The winners will be those who make digital assets feel practical, safe, and intuitive for ordinary users.

Download the report

Read the full report to explore:

• Crypto adoption and sentiment across ten APAC markets
• Country-level drivers of adoption and barriers to participation
• The role of regulation in building confidence
• Stablecoin adoption, accessibility, and payment use cases
• Remittances and cross-border payment opportunities
• Tokenized real-world assets and investment access
• Consumer demand for digital asset and traditional finance integration

Download APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025: Stablecoins, Tokenization & Integration

Partner with Protocol Theory

Looking to build brand authority and shape category narratives through data-driven thought leadership? Protocol Theory partners with leading organisations to create evidence-led research that sets the agenda.

Get in touch to discuss a potential collaboration.◼️