Nearly One in Four Adults in Asia-Pacific - Around 535m People - Use Digital Assets, Driven by Stablecoins and Remittances, New Consensus Report Finds

HONG KONG and NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025: Stablecoins, Tokenization & Integration report, which surveyed more than 4,000 adults, finds that nearly one in four adults (24.3%) across the region use digital assets - significantly greater than the 16.9% global average¹. The region is home to nearly six in ten of the world's digital asset users, with awareness and optimism among the highest globally, according to the new report released from Consensus by CoinDesk ahead of the event's return to Hong Kong (February 10-12, 2026).

Regulatory clarity has accelerated this shift. Many APAC markets now operate a virtual-asset service provider (VASP) licensing regime, though national trajectories vary widely. Thailand leads at 42% adoption for the second consecutive year, followed by the UAE² (31%), South Korea (30%) and the Philippines (31%), with the latter being powered by a robust remittance ecosystem and a mobile-first economy. Singapore (28%) and Hong Kong (27%) show high familiarity but slower growth in new entrants, signaling market consolidation.

Digital asset usage in APAC has moved from investment asset to embedded financial infrastructure, driven by remittances, mobile-first finance and stablecoin transactions. More than nine in ten adults in the region are aware of cryptocurrency, and over half intend to use it within the next year, twice the proportion who already do. The constraint on further adoption is not demand but accessibility: the degree to which digital assets are usable and integrated into trusted financial systems that people utilize in their everyday financial lives.

Almost one in five adults across the region now also use stablecoins, but there is however a divide: adoption in emerging markets (17.8%) is roughly three times that of developed economies (5.8%). Thailand leads stablecoin adoption at 30%, followed by the UAE (26%) and Hong Kong (18%). Japan sits at 2% - the lowest in the study.

Remittances are helping drive adoption. 29% of remittance users now utilize stablecoins, representing an estimated $72B in annualized flows³. Adoption is strongest in emerging markets where friction is greatest. 58% of remitters in India, 44% in Thailand, and 38% in the UAE use stablecoin rails to bypass high fees and settlement delays. Corridors such as Singapore to China, and Thailand to the Philippines, are among the most active globally.

Michael Lau, Chairman of Consensus, commented: "APAC continues to shape the global digital economy, not only through innovation, but through its capacity to turn innovation into inclusion through tools they use in daily life. This year's report captures that spirit: a region leading with pragmatism and purpose, where access is driving progress. At Consensus Hong Kong, industry leaders will share exactly how this happens: specific innovations, real trends, and proven models that are expanding financial access. Our goal is to foster the dialogue and partnerships needed to advance an open, accessible and sustainable financial future—starting here in APAC."

You can find out more about the countries profiled in the report, as well as the themes and innovations driving their adoption, at Consensus Hong Kong 2026. These topics - as well as insights into factors that may support further adoption - will be explored by industry leaders, policymakers and financial institutions, at the most influential business event of the year.

The APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025: Stablecoins, Tokenization & Integration report is available for download here.

To register for Consensus Hong Kong 2026, visit https://consensus-hongkong2026.coindesk.com/register/.

About Consensus
Consensus by CoinDesk is the world's longest-running and most influential gathering for the future of finance, including crypto, blockchain and AI. Bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and innovators, it helps people understand the future of digital assets with discussions on key topics such as DeFi, Web3, AI, the evolving regulatory landscape and more. With a mix of panels, keynotes and networking opportunities, Consensus provides a platform to explore the latest trends shaping the digital economy. For more information about Consensus, please visit https://events.coindesk.com/

About CoinDesk
CoinDesk is the most trusted media, events, indices and data company for the global crypto economy. Since 2013, CoinDesk Media has led the story of the future of money and investing, illuminating the transformation in society and culture that comes with it. Our award-winning team of journalists delivers news and unparalleled insights that bring transparency, comprehension and context. CoinDesk gathers the global crypto, blockchain and Web3 communities at annual events such as Consensus, the world's largest and longest-running crypto festival. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by Bullish Group. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. For more information on CoinDesk media and events, please visit CoinDesk.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include "forward-looking statements" relating to future events or the Bullish Group's future financial or operating performance, business strategy, and potential market opportunity. Such forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Bullish Group, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and the Bullish Group undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements.

¹ Figures are calculated on the basis of internet-connected adults (18–64 years)
² As with the 2024 report, the UAE was included as a comparator market given its advanced regulatory environment, high adoption rates, and relevance to cross-border crypto activity.
³ Artemis (2025) estimates more than $72 billion in annualized P2P and remittance-like stablecoin flows.

 

source: Consensus by CoinDesk