The crypto bear market has been depressing.
The value of Bitcoin is considerably down.
Ethereum’s merge happened, but crickets.
Crypto Twitter is dead. NFTs are dead.
And we may have to go under for another four years.
This can be a tough pill to swallow for those who were hoping to make a quick profit from the volatile world of cryptocurrencies.
Actually, I am an unfortunate investor who has missed the top twice in both 2017 and 2022.
I kept telling myself that bitcoin could hit $100k, but boy was I wrong.
However, surprisingly, the recent Cryptocurrency Adoption Index by Chainanalysis report suggests that global cryptocurrency adoption is still high.
Although the adoption has simmered a little since early 2021, global adoption remains higher than in the pre-bull era of 2019.
This makes you wonder, who is using it? And for what reason?
Hint: It is not developed countries
Global Adoption is Still High
The above graph shows that the global cryptocurrency adoption rate peaked in Q2 2021. This was when Elon Musk was buying some bitcoin for Tesla.
After that, there was a wave of adoptions — it decreased in Q3 when the prices of cryptocurrencies went down. Then, in Q4, when the prices went back up, there was a rebound in the number of people who adopted it.
However, since then, it has decreased slowly as we have entered a bear market. Despite this, it is essential to note that global cryptocurrency adoption is still higher than before the bull market in 2019.
According to Chainalysis, many people who were attracted to the world of cryptocurrencies in 2020 and 2021, have stayed around.
But who has stuck around?
Low-Income Countries Are the Largest Adopters
According to Chainanalysis, these are the top 20 countries using Cryptocurrencies.
The income level is the official class the World Bank gives based on the Gross National Income per capita.
If you look at it in another way, 50% of the top 20 countries are all in the lower middle-income bracket.
People in the lower middle and upper middle-income countries often use cryptocurrency to send money to their families, protect their savings from fluctuations in the value of the traditional currency, and meet other unique financial needs (such as play to earn) in their economies.
These countries also tend to rely more on Bitcoin and stablecoins than others.
Vietnam, the #1 country, has been #1 since last year with its high growth in P2P games such as Axie Infinity.
Ukraine’s usage may have shot up due to the war with Russia and its unstable fiat system.
Although not in the top 20, Venezuelans use stablecoins such as RSR to protect their earnings from hyperinflation.
I believe the data and the examples above, all suggest that cryptocurrency is more than just a speculation tool but a technology with actual utility.
With cryptocurrency, people in unstable economies can maintain purchasing power and avoid the high fees associated with traditional money transfers.
In addition, blockchain-based applications are beginning to emerge that can help people in these countries access essential services like education and healthcare.
Also, if the price of cryptocurrencies rises again, it can be one of the best leveling grounds for people in lower-income countries.
Wealth inequality is a global issue, and it’s only getting worse. But what if there was a way for them to level the playing field?
Cryptocurrencies could be that way.
If the price of cryptocurrencies rises again, it could create new opportunities for people in lower-income countries.
They would be able to use their digital assets to invest in businesses or purchase property. Additionally, they could use cryptocurrency trading to generate income.
Of course, there are risks involved with investing in cryptocurrencies. They are volatile and subject to manipulation. However, the potential rewards could be worth the risk for people trying to escape poverty.
And remember, if you zoom out, we are still very early in the adoption cycle (similar to the internet in 1998).
If you are still early in your crypto journey and want to get the best sources, I would suggest following Ignacio de Gregorio or Cody Collins. They helped me with informative sources about crypto.
And if you would like to read about inflation and its impact on other countries in general, consider subscribing to my newsletter called “Inflated World,” which is entirely free.
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This is not financial advice. I am not a financial advisor, and you should do your own research and not just listen to anyone on the internet. Nothing contained in this publication should be construed as investment advice.
