Research Shows Just 4% of the Global Population Owns Bitcoin in 2025

Key Takeaways: 

• Only 4% of people worldwide own Bitcoin, according to Rivers' research.
• North America leads with 10.7% ownership, while Africa lags at just 1.6%.
• Clear regulations and better education are crucial to boost global adoption.

River Financial's new report shows just 4% of people worldwide own Bitcoin. Ownership is highest in wealthy nations, with the U.S. topping the list at 14%. 

Despite growing interest and U.S. plans for a Bitcoin reserve, these figures indicate Bitcoin remains far from mainstream global adoption.

Africa's Bitcoin Ownership Rate Stands at 1.6%, the Lowest Globally

According to a research report published on February 25, North America has the highest estimated Bitcoin ownership at 10.7%, followed by South America at 6.6%. 

Europe, Asia, and Oceania have adoption rates of 3.4%, 3.6%, and 3.3%, respectively, while Africa has the lowest Bitcoin ownership rate at 1.6%.

Bitcoin’s adoption is shifting dramatically.

It’s already the fastest-spreading form of money in history.

But now it’s entering a new phase. Our latest research shows why 👇 pic.twitter.com/ETCeexE2GN

— River (@River) February 25, 2025

The report indicates that Bitcoin has tapped less than 1% of its $225 trillion potential market, assuming it captures half the store-of-value market (gold, real estate, liquid assets). Despite growth, it represents just 0.2% of global wealth.

River Financial noted that Bitcoin has only reached 3% of its maximum adoption potential, reinforcing that the digital asset is still in the early stages of global adoption.

Bitcoin Adoption Compared to Historical Technology Trends

The firm compared Bitcoin to other technologies in their early days. 

Bitcoin is like the internet in the 1990s and resembles how social media and online banking began. These patterns show Bitcoin has a lot of room to grow in the coming years.

Supporting this perspective, a recent BlackRock market report revealed that Bitcoin adoption has outpaced the internet and mobile phones since its launch in 2009. 

According to BlackRock, the crypto market has grown to 300 million users globally within 12 years, whereas mobile phones and the internet took 21 and 15 years, respectively, to reach similar adoption levels.

Time taken to reach 300M users:
Mobile Phones – 21 years
Internet – 15 years
Crypto – 12 years

Crypto's pace of adoption has been even faster than mobile phones & the internet!
Prediction: Crypto will hit 1 billion users by 2030

Image credit: @BlackRock pic.twitter.com/EteNuQDWY0

— Sumit Gupta (CoinDCX) (@smtgpt) January 14, 2025

Institutional investors have hardly engaged with Bitcoin despite these adoption levels, as U.S. investment advisors allocate merely 0.006% of their portfolios to the digital asset, according to the River report.

Key Drivers of Bitcoin Growth and Barriers to Mass Adoption

River Financial's research also detailed that individuals, institutions, businesses, and even nation-states are the major accelerators of Bitcoin adoption. 

Adoption is rising among individuals as people seek alternatives to traditional banking, especially in unstable economies. Institutional investors are accelerating growth through Bitcoin ETFs and banking services, legitimizing it as an asset class. 

Businesses are integrating Bitcoin for payments and as a hedge against inflation, while some nation-states, such as the United States and El Salvador, have explored a Bitcoin reserve.

However, while Bitcoin gradually gains traction, several factors limit its widespread adoption. One major barrier is a lack of awareness, as many individuals remain unfamiliar with Bitcoin’s long-term value proposition as a store of value. 

👀 PS. The general population is nowhere near #Bitcoin. To them, it's either a scam, something the government must approve, or they’re too stuck in the rat race to even think about it. Once they realize they've been played for fools, the FOMO will be wilder than anything you can…

— Tony | thebitcoinway.com (@V4BTC) March 9, 2025

Additionally, limited access to reliable on-ramps poses a challenge, particularly in regions with scarce, secure, and trustworthy platforms for buying, storing, and transacting Bitcoin. 

Regulatory uncertainty further complicates adoption, as some countries' unclear or restrictive regulations discourage retail and institutional investors from entering the market.