Asian investors now account for 55% of Bitcoin and Ethereum spot volume, up from 42% in 2024. This shift reflects regulatory clarity in jurisdictions like Japan and Hong Kong, contrasted with the SEC’s aggressive stance in America. The U.S. share has dropped below 45% as institutional players await clearer custody rules.
Cultural factors also play a role, with Asian retail investors embracing crypto as an inflation hedge amid currency weaknesses. The yen’s 12% decline against the dollar in 2025 has driven Japanese investors into Bitcoin. Meanwhile, Southeast Asia’s gaming-focused demographics are adopting play-to-earn tokens at scale.
Infrastructure development accelerates the trend – Asian exchanges now offer 200+ perpetual futures pairs versus 150 in the West. This liquidity attracts high-frequency traders and arbitrage desks. Analysts predict the region could control 70% of global crypto volume by 2026, reshaping market dynamics and protocol governance.
