Syed Rahman and Ulrich Schmidt outline the statistics indicating a trend among investors towards cryptocurrency.
Crypto assets are increasingly being used as a hedge against inflation, according to recent statistics.
Data from the crypto exchange MEXC shows that the proportion of its users employing cryptocurrencies to protect themselves against a loss of value due to inflation rose from 29% in the first quarter of 2025 to 46% in the second.
Factors such as macroeconomic instability, the weakening of national currencies and inflationary pressures have been cited as reasons why crypto is showing an increase in popularity. East Asia saw the largest increase (up from 23% to 52%), followed by the Middle East (27% to 45%).
The MEXC research also highlighted regional variations in crypto investor behaviour. It states that 63% of new crypto investors in Latin America have done so in order to earn a passive income (money earned from doing little or no work). In contrast, South Asia shows an increase in spot trading, with more than half the investors stating that their main goal is to achieve financial independence. Tokens of public blockchains have the greatest levels of investor confidence in Latin America (74%) and Southeast Asia (70%).
Investors and experts have always stated that levels of cryptocurrency investment would develop at different rates from continent to continent and from country to country within each continent. To take an example close to home, the level of crypto possession in the UK is said by the government to be around 12%, whereas in Germany it is believed to be 8.3% and in Türkiye, 19.3%. And the figure for the world is 6.9%.
Different economic circumstances and motivations are always likely to mean there are variations in levels of crypto possession. Investors are increasingly considering cryptocurrencies as an investment instrument used to hedge against inflation . But changes to the law and regulations regarding crypto trading and the increased popularity of investment strategies relating to portfolio diversification, including cryptocurrencies, could all affect the demand for crypto at any given time.
The statistics for levels of cryptocurrency ownership reflect the numerous issues faced by users, including increasing inflation, anxiety over persistent price pressures and the weakening of established fiat currencies worldwide. The ability to easily purchase cryptocurrencies via mobile applications has also made such assets an option for those looking to find a quick and easy income stream.
