Australia’s Crypto Adoption Surpasses the US, New Data Indicates

Australia’s Crypto Adoption Surpasses the US, New Data Indicates

Australia has seen its cryptocurrency adoption rate rise to 31% in 2025, up from 28% in 2024. This surge positions the country among the top nations engaged with crypto, as revealed in a16z’s State of Crypto 2025 report. The increased use of mobile wallets highlights a trend where users are primarily focused on trading and speculative activities, setting Australia apart from many developing countries.

The report comes at a significant time when the global cryptocurrency market cap has surpassed $4 trillion, with active crypto users now estimated at 40-70 million—a growth of around 10 million users in just one year.

Australia’s Crypto Adoption Surpasses the US, New Data Indicates

Australia at the Forefront of Crypto Trading

Australia and South Korea lead developed nations in terms of web traffic related to tokens. Meanwhile, emerging markets, including Argentina, Colombia, India, and Nigeria, are driving growth in mobile wallets, with Argentina seeing an astonishing 16-fold increase over a three-year span due to a worsening currency crisis.

Australia’s Crypto Adoption Surpasses the US, New Data Indicates

The report identifies significant changes in the maturation of the crypto market. Prominent traditional financial institutions such as Visa, BlackRock, Fidelity, and JPMorgan Chase are now offering or planning to launch crypto products, joining tech challengers like PayPal, Stripe, and Robinhood.

Currently, blockchains are capable of processing over 3,400 transactions per second, reflecting a remarkable 100-fold increase over five years. Furthermore, stablecoins facilitate annual transactions totaling $46 trillion, placing them in competition with major players like Visa and PayPal.

Australia’s Crypto Adoption Surpasses the US, New Data Indicates

To facilitate this growth, Australia has adapted its regulatory framework. Draft legislation released in September proposes new penalties for digital asset platforms that fail to comply with the new rules, including fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover.

Exchanges will now need to obtain an Australian Financial Services License, with penalties that could amount to A$16.5 million, three times the benefits gained, or 10% of annual turnover for fraudulent conduct and unfair contract terms. The consultation for this draft law closes today, October 24.

Stablecoins and Institutional Investments Fueling Adoption

Stablecoins have achieved a total transaction volume of $46 trillion over the past year, a 106% increase from the previous year. Adjusted figures depict a total of $9 trillion in the last 12 months, marking an 87% rise.

Monthly stablecoin transaction volumes approached $1.25 trillion in September 2025, with activities remaining largely independent of general crypto trading volumes. The total supply of stablecoins has now skyrocketed to over $300 billion, with Tether and USDC accounting for 87% of this total.

Australia’s Crypto Adoption Surpasses the US, New Data Indicates

In September, Australia’s securities regulator, ASIC, provided class relief for intermediaries distributing stablecoins from licensed Australian Financial Services providers, exempting them from separate market licenses until June 2028.

The first beneficiary of this was Catena Digital Pty Ltd, which issued the AUDM stablecoin, with ASIC planning to extend similar relief to other licensed issuers. This measure addresses concerns regarding the commercial viability of stablecoin distribution.

Nevertheless, security remains a critical issue worldwide. Mitchell Amador, CEO of Immunefi, warned that unless hacking rates are reduced to below 1%, stablecoins may become unreliable, effectively subsidizing cybercrime for years.

Additionally, exchange-traded products are propelling institutional investments, with on-chain holdings of Bitcoin and Ethereum reaching over $175 billion—an increase of 169% from $65 billion a year ago.

Australia’s Crypto Adoption Surpasses the US, New Data Indicates

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust has been highlighted as the most actively traded Bitcoin ETF launch ever. Publicly traded digital asset treasury firms now collectively possess about 4% of the total Bitcoin and Ethereum supplies, and together with exchange-traded products, hold around 10% of both token supplies.

Pension Funds Open Doors for Long-Term Crypto Growth

Australia’s substantial $2.8 trillion pension pool, known as superannuation, has become a key target for cryptocurrency adoption. Companies like Coinbase and OKX are launching products to help channel retirement funds into digital assets.

Self-managed superannuation funds now represent a quarter of Australia’s pension system, with crypto exposure increasing sevenfold since 2021, totaling A$1.7 billion.

Coinbase is set to roll out a dedicated service for SMSFs, boasting a waiting list of over 500 investors. Similarly, OKX introduced a comparable product in June that has exceeded expectations in demand, according to Australian CEO Kate Cooper.

Earlier this month, the crypto exchange Gemini also initiated a fully localized operation in Australia, obtaining registration with AUSTRAC to operate as a licensed digital currency exchange. This launch follows Gemini’s debut on Nasdaq last September, after raising $425 million in its initial public offering, with the Winklevoss brothers maintaining 94.5% of voting power.

Key Takeaways

Australia’s crypto adoption rate rose to 31% in 2025, reflecting a growing engagement with digital assets.
Notable increases in mobile wallet usage and trading activity were recorded.
Australia and South Korea lead in web traffic for tokens, while emerging markets drive mobile wallet growth.
Institutional investment in crypto is witnessing a sharp rise, particularly through exchange-traded products.
The Australian regulatory framework is evolving to accommodate and support digital asset platforms.