The UK has come out as a surprise leader in crypto adoption growth, with ownership rising from 18% in 2024 to 24% this year.
Singapore has the highest overall crypto ownership at 28%, despite the UK's fast year-over-year increase.
Pro-crypto sentiment, especially driven by favorable policy changes under President Donald Trump in the US, is a major factor.
Political confidence in government stances on digital assets like Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Europe's MiCA regulation are other factors as well.
Millennials and Gen Z are leading worldwide crypto adoption, with approximately half having owned or currently owning digital assets.
Crypto adoption is gaining steam around the world, especially this year.
One of the most interesting aspects of this trend is how the United Kingdom recently emerged as a surprise leader in year-over-year growth.
According to Gemini’s newly released Global State of Crypto Report, nearly one in four people in the UK now own digital assets.
This has now put the country ahead of the U.S. and several other major economies in terms of adoption.
This growth has been especially interesting considering how the UK has yet to implement any kind of regulatory framework for digital assets like the US.
Gemini recently surveyed 7,200 adults across the U.S., UK, France, Singapore, Italy, and Australia.
The report shows a clear upward trend in crypto ownership across all surveyed regions.
However, the UK stood out the most.
YoY crypto growth around the world
In the UK, crypto ownership rose from 18% in 2024 to 24% in 2025. This marks the largest increase of any country in the study.
France followed closely with a jump from 18% to 21%, while ownership in the U.S. climbed from 20% to 22%.
Even though the UK showed the fastest growth, Singapore maintained its spot as the leader in total crypto ownership.
Overall this year,28% of respondents in Singapore reported owning crypto, up from 26% the previous year.
These trends seem to be stemming from several factors.
According to the report, pro-crypto sentiment has been boosted by favorable changes, especially in the United States.
The return of President Donald Trump to office in January had a noticeable effect on investor confidence in digital assets.
Trump’s administration launched a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, appointed pro-crypto leadership at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and introduced new laws to provide clarity on stablecoins and other digital assets.
Effects of the strategic Bitcoin reserve
These developments have helped legitimize crypto in the eyes of many skeptical investors.
According to Gemini CEO Marshall Beard, this policy shift is setting the tone in places all over the world.
“The United States has proven itself as a leader in web3 and blockchain technology with the addition of Trump’s pro-crypto policies,” Beard said. “With this pro-innovation approach, the crypto industry is well set for growth in the United States and around the world.”
Gemini’s survey data confirms that political confidence is one of the major reasons for the changes in consumer attitudes toward crypto.
In the U.S., 23% of non-crypto owners said that Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve increased their confidence in Bitcoin and other digital assets.
This sentiment isn’t confined to the U.S.
In the UK, 21% of non-owners said the same and in Singapore, 19% were onboard.
These responses show that even people who haven’t yet invested in crypto are starting to see it as a more legitimate and stable asset class.
Europe’s role in shaping the crypto ecosystem around the world has grown recently.
For example, the introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation has created a more stable environment for digital asset trading across the EU.
France in particular has embraced crypto on a wider scale and among surveyed nations, France had the highest rate of respondents (67%).
These respondents showed confidence in their government’s stance on digital assets.
It is worth noting that despite its adoption rates, the UK still lacks a clear regulatory framework for digital assets.
However, steps are being taken to address this issue because in April 2025, the UK government released a draft statutory instrument (SI) for regulating crypto exchanges, brokers and agents.
More interestingly, younger generations are at the heart of crypto adoption worldwide.
According to Gemini’s report, half of all Millennials and Gen Z respondents have either owned or currently own crypto.
Specifically, 52% of Millennials and 48% of Gen Z reported crypto activity.
This trend shows a major change in how financial assets are viewed and used. Traditional investment products are also losing ground to decentralized alternatives that offer greater accessibility, global reach and in some cases, higher returns.
Overall as governments finalize rules and younger investors push for new financial tools, the next few years could see further growth in digital assets.
Crypto ownership is growing, and the UK is leading the charge.
Disclaimer: Voice of Crypto aims to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, but it will not be responsible for any missing facts or inaccurate information. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile financial assets, so research and make your own financial decisions.