Global cryptocurrency adoption has reached a historic milestone with 1.01 billion users representing approximately 12.24% of the global population, according to the latest adoption data. The Crypto Wealth Report 2026 reveals that there are 135,694 crypto millionaires worldwide, each holding USD 1 million or more in digital assets, with 92,272 being Bitcoin millionaires. The global crypto market is now worth USD 2.6 trillion, of which USD 1.6 trillion is in Bitcoin as of August 31, 2026. This growth is driven by a combination of retail participation in emerging markets and institutional product launches in developed economies. India leads in total user count with 127 million active users, while Nigeria leads in per-capita adoption with 47% of adults owning digital assets to preserve capital against local currency devaluation. The United States serves as the primary capital hub with 67 million users and holds the majority of institutional spot ETF assets. As reported by Crypto.news, Vietnam (18.7%) and Brazil (12.0%) lead in regional retail payment corridors and gaming finance.
Brazil's largest banks have significantly expanded their cryptocurrency offerings, with Itaú now offering 15 crypto assets through its investment platform and Nubank listing 28 digital assets for more than 7 million users. According to reports from Folha de S.Paulo, Banco do Brasil began allowing customers to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum directly in January, processing more than ₹11 million ($2.1 million) in customer transactions since opening the service. The expansion represents a strategic move by Brazilian banks to provide digital asset services while maintaining conservative balance sheet practices. As reported by Henley & Partners, the drawdown has changed how crypto wealth is held and managed, with active management in crypto markets no longer being a niche pursuit.
Brazilian users and companies completed ₹505.5 billion ($98.7 billion) in crypto transactions during 2025, representing a 22% increase from 2024 and 433% growth from 2020 levels. As reported by Folha de S.Paulo, companies accounted for nearly all reported activity with ₹497 billion ($97 billion) in transactions, or 98.3% of annual volume. The growth demonstrates the increasing adoption of digital assets in Brazil's financial ecosystem, with stablecoins making up a significant portion due to their dollar-tracking capabilities. According to Henley & Partners, stablecoins are changing how digital wealth can move between financial centers, with dollar liquidity now moving between custodians, family offices, and banks in minutes rather than days without routing through US correspondent banks. This growth aligns with the broader global trend where stablecoins process $33.0 trillion in annual settlements.
Brazil's Legal Framework for Virtual Assets, enacted in 2022, assigned oversight to the Central Bank, which published Resolutions 519, 520 and 521 in November 2025. According to Folha de S.Paulo, around 120 crypto firms operating in Brazil must meet licensing requirements by October 30, 2026. In July, the Central Bank approved additional capital and risk rules that will take effect in January 2027, placing virtual-asset service providers within Brazil's regulatory structure while adding governance and risk-management requirements. This regulatory framework supports the global trend where major financial jurisdictions have shifted from reactive enforcement to comprehensive licensing frameworks. As reported by Henley & Partners, countries are responding by establishing comprehensive regulations, with 76 jurisdictions signing up to the OECD's reporting framework for crypto assets, with the first exchanges of information between 46 of them due in September 2027.
Despite the expansion of crypto services, March 2026 filings showed Brazilian banks held no virtual assets on their balance sheets, as reported by Folha de S.Paulo. Under the current service model, customers purchase or hold digital assets while institutions provide custody or process orders. Carlos Akira Sato, co-founder of financial consultancy Syscapital, noted that in the conservative banking sector, regulation makes institutions more secure to launch products while remaining cautious about direct exposure. The regulatory framework allows licensed banks to operate under Central Bank supervision without requiring proprietary crypto asset purchases. According to Henley & Partners, the portability of digital wealth is making residence and citizenship planning increasingly relevant to crypto investors, with the firm advising that a well-structured sovereign portfolio combining residence, citizenship, and jurisdictional options can provide greater flexibility and resilience over the long term.
