According to a 2022 Global State of Crypto report by cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, over half of all cryptocurrency owners in the United States, Latin America, and Asia Pacific bought digital assets for the first time in 2021. The survey, which polled nearly 30,000 people in 20 countries between November 2021 and February 2022, found that 2021 was a record-breaking year for cryptocurrency adoption, with inflation in particular driving adoption in countries that have experienced currency devaluation, according to the report.
Brazil and Indonesia enjoy highest cryptocurrency adoption rates
According to Gemini, Brazil and Indonesia top the globe in cryptocurrency adoption, with 41 percent of individuals in both countries claiming crypto ownership, compared to 20 percent in the US and 18 percent in the UK.
According to Gemini, 79 percent of those who indicated they owned cryptocurrency last year did so because of the digital assets’ long-term investment potential.
People who do not own cryptocurrency but reside in countries where their currency has depreciated against the US dollar were more than five times more likely to indicate they wanted to buy cryptocurrency as an inflation hedge.
79 percent of Irish cryptocurrency investors are keeping their coins for the long term, while 39 percent are actively trading their coins.
Only 16 percent of Americans and 15 percent of Europeans thought that cryptocurrencies protect against inflation, compared to 64 percent in Indonesia and India, for example.
In the previous five years, the Indian rupee has lost 17.5 percent against the dollar, while the Indonesian rupiah has lost 50 percent against the dollar between 2011 and 2020.
Only 17% of Europeans claimed they possessed digital assets in 2021, and only 7% of those who did not own crypto indicated they planned to purchase it at some point.
It remains to be seen if the adoption trend will continue this year.
While bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, reached an all-time high of almost $68,000 in November, helping to lift the value of the cryptocurrency industry above $3 trillion, according to CoinGecko, it has spent much of 2022 trading in a tight band of $34,000-$44,000.
Irish most ‘crypto-curious’
According to Gemini’s poll, Irish people are the most ‘crypto-curious’ in the globe, followed by Germans, Colombians, and the United Kingdom.
Women make up the bulk of Ireland’s “crypto-curious.”
According to the survey, 18 percent of Irish people presently hold or have previously held bitcoin, which is comparable to nations such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and the United States.
The average crypto investor in Ireland is 36 years old and earns between €26,000 and €64,999 per year, according to the report.
79 percent of Irish cryptocurrency investors are keeping their coins for the long term, while 39 percent are actively trading their coins.
Gemini, a platform that provides facilities for buying, trading, and storing cryptocurrencies, released the research. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss launched it in 2014 in the United States, and the firm just received an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from the Central Bank.
“This global survey reveals that Irish people have a strong appetite for crypto, which is expected given Ireland’s international reputation as a hub for financial services and emerging technologies,” said Gillian Lynch, Gemini’s Head of Ireland and Europe.
Christy Gren
Christy Gren is an Industry Specialist Reporter at Industry Leaders Magazine she enjoys writing about Unicorns, Silicon Valley, Startups, Business Leaders and Innovators. Her articles provide an insight about the Power Players in the field of Technology, Auto, Manufacturing, and F&B.
