- Stablecoins account for over 90% of digital flows in Brazil, used as stores of value and payment alternatives.
- Centralized exchanges like Mercado Bitcoin and Bitso serve as key entry points, driving high retail and institutional engagement.
Latin America recorded $1.5 trillion in cryptocurrency transactions between July 2022 and June 2025, according to new findings from Chainalysis. The region, known for its high levels of volatility, continues to expand digital asset use even as global markets fluctuate.
Brazil leads the regional market, processing $318.8 billion in crypto, while Argentina and Mexico follow with $93.9 billion and $71.2 billion, respectively.
Venezuela and Colombia round out the top five, each surpassing $44 billion in volume. Chainalysis points to persistent inflation, currency fluctuations, and capital controls as drivers for local demand, particularly for stablecoins. Stablecoins now represent over 90% of digital currency flows in Brazil and are widely used in Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia as stores of value and payment tools.
Centralized exchanges remain the preferred entry point for most Latin American users, accounting for 64% of all crypto activity in the region. Platforms like Mercado Bitcoin, Ripio, Bitso, and SatoshiTango play a central exchange in onboarding new users.
Institutional involvement has deepened, with traditional banks and fintech companies expanding digital asset offerings. Although Argentina’s global ranking in adoption has slipped, daily use remains high. Local experts note that millions rely on cryptocurrencies for payments, remittances, and asset protection amid economic uncertainty.
The Chainalysis report concludes that the crypto market’s growth in Latin America reflects both global trends and unique regional pressures. Continued expansion will likely depend on further regulatory clarity and integration with mainstream finance.
The new Chainalysis report confirms something we have been seeing for years: Latin America is one of the most dynamic regions in the world in terms of cryptocurrency use. The fact that Argentina ranks second in the region in terms of volume, behind Brazil, reflects the magnitude of the local market and how, despite macroeconomic instability, Argentines find in cryptocurrencies — especially digital dollars and Bitcoin — an alternative to safeguard value, send and receive payments, or participate in the global economy.” – Julián Colombo, Managing Director of Bitso Argentina.
Julian Colombo of Bitso Argentina emphasizes that the next challenge is to boost quality alongside volume by improving education, developing practical solutions, and increasing real-world applications, so more people and businesses can benefit from digital assets.
