Amid persistent global inflation and regional economic pressures, cryptocurrency adoption is evolving with distinct regional motivations, according to MEXC's H1 2025 user survey. The report reveals that 46% of global users now cite inflation protection as their primary reason for entering crypto, a significant increase from 29% in Q1 2025.
The trend is most pronounced in East Asia, where inflation hedging adoption more than doubled to 52%, and in the Middle East, which rose from 27% to 45%. This shift reflects growing concerns about local currency weakness and economic instability driving users toward crypto as a defensive asset.
Latin America emerges as the leader in community-driven adoption, with 63% of new users entering crypto for passive income opportunities. Memecoin ownership in the region climbed from 27% to 34%, representing the highest regional jump. Meanwhile, South Asia has become the global center for trading activity, with spot trading reaching 52% of all user activity and 53% of users citing financial independence as their motivation.
Public chain tokens remain the most widely held assets globally, with over 65% of users including them in their portfolios. This figure rises to 74% in Latin America and 70% in Southeast Asia. Stablecoin usage stayed steady at 50%, indicating a balance between volatility hedging and yield-seeking strategies.
The survey also highlights shifting wealth distribution patterns. In East Asia, wallets holding over $20,000 in crypto dropped from 39% to 33%, reflecting regulatory uncertainty and profit-taking. However, mid-tier wallets ($5,000-$20,000) are growing globally, signaling broader participation and more evenly distributed wealth.
Tracy Jin, COO of MEXC, commented: "From inflation hedges in East Asia to community-led growth in Latin America, adoption is no longer monolithic. Our focus is on delivering products tailored to local needs, while supporting a globally trusted crypto ecosystem."
Looking ahead to Q3, MEXC forecasts continued growth in crypto adoption for wealth protection, increased structured trading strategies, and expanding portfolio diversification. While memecoins and AI tokens attract short-term attention, core holdings like public chain assets are expected to remain dominant.