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Home > Blog > Article: “How many people use...”
Short answer: According to the Crypto.com Crypto Market Sizing 2025 report, approximately 365 million people owned Bitcoin. River, taking a more conservative estimate, puts the number at around 300 million people, or roughly 4% of the world’s population. The exact number cannot be confirmed because Bitcoin does not have a central user registry.
This does not mean that 365 mln people pay with BTC every day. Most people treat Bitcoin mainly as an investment, a way to gain financial exposure, or a store of value, rather than as a regular payment method.
Updated: June 16, 2026
According to Crypto.com, the number of global cryptocurrency holders rose from 659 million in 2024 to 741 million in 2025, while the number of BTC holders increased from 337 million to 365 million. Triple-A estimated that in 2024 over 562 million people worldwide held digital currencies, corresponding to approximately 6.8% of the global population.
The most important conclusion is simple:
Bitcoin has hundreds of millions of holders, but far fewer people use it on a daily basis for transactions or payments.
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It is not easy to determine the exact number of Bitcoin users, because the blockchain shows addresses and transactions, not specific individuals. Furthermore, the term “Bitcoin user” can refer to someone who owns BTC, invests in it through an exchange, or actually uses it to pay for goods and services. These are three different levels of adoption.
A single user can have multiple wallets and many Bitcoin addresses—separate ones for investing, making payments, storing funds, or using apps. Therefore, the number of addresses does not reflect the number of people. It can significantly overestimate that number.
Many people hold BTC on exchanges, with brokers, or in investment apps. On the blockchain, you often see the platform’s address rather than each individual customer’s address. A single exchange address can therefore represent the funds of thousands or millions of users.
A Bitcoin address is not a user. Nor does a wallet always correspond to a single person. One person can have multiple addresses, and a single address can belong to an exchange serving many customers. Therefore, on-chain data is useful for assessing network activity, but it does not reveal the exact number of Bitcoin users.
It is impossible to accurately count all BTC holders, because a single person may have multiple addresses, and some users keep their Bitcoin on exchanges or in apps. However, the available data shows a clear trend: the number of Bitcoin holders is steadily growing.
Data compiled in market reports show that one of the strongest periods of adoption growth was 2020–2021, when Bitcoin became a more widely recognized investment asset and access to it through exchanges and apps became easier for retail users. Growth was slower afterward, but more stable.
In the years 2023-2025, Bitcoin adoption was driven primarily by: greater availability of crypto exchanges and apps, the development of regulated investment products, rising institutional interest, and increased user awareness. The year 2026 should be treated with caution, as full annual data are not yet available.
Bitcoin is no longer a niche asset. The number of its holders is in the hundreds of millions and continues to grow, although the pace of adoption is slower today than it was during the first major bull runs.
Bitcoin adoption varies by country. In developed countries, BTC is primarily an investment asset, while in emerging markets it often serves as a tool for capital preservation, remittances, and access to the global financial system.
The highest adoption rates are seen in countries with large populations, high levels of digital activity, and developed financial markets. USA and India are among the most important markets globally, while Nigeria and Brazil are showing strong grassroots adoption.
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In countries such as India, Nigeria, and Brazil, Bitcoin is not just an investment. It is often used as a store of value, for fast international transfers, and to access digital financial services outside the traditional banking system.
In the U.S., Germany, and Switzerland, Bitcoin is part of an increasingly regulated financial market. Exchanges, funds, custodial services, banks and compliance with regulations play the largest role there. In these countries, BTC is evolving more as an investment asset and as financial infrastructure.
Switzerland shows that Bitcoin adoption isn't just about exchanges and apps. Bitcoin ATMs are also important — they provide simple, physical access to BTC for cash.
For many people, this is an easier way to get started with Bitcoin than opening an account on an exchange. Bitcoin ATMs lower the barrier to entry, assist less tech-savvy users, and bridge the gap between digital assets and the real-world financial infrastructure.
In a country like Switzerland—which is regulated, financially advanced, and open to blockchain— Bitcoin ATMs are a sign that the market is maturing.
Want to buy Bitcoin but don't know how to use a Bitcoin ATM? It's easy! Check out our guide by clicking the button below:
When analyzing Bitcoin, one should not equate a user with a wallet, an address, or an exchange account. These are distinct concepts that represent different levels of interaction with the infrastructure.
A single user can have multiple wallets and multiple addresses. A single wallet can generate new addresses for each transaction. Therefore, the number of addresses or wallets does not directly reflect the number of actual Bitcoin users.
The key difference is control. An exchange account may give exposure to BTC, but it doesn't necessarily mean you hold Bitcoin yourself. Full control begins when the user manages their own private keys.
Bitcoin adoption has gone through three main stages: from a technological experiment, to an asset for institutional investors, and finally to a product available to the general public.
In the beginning, Bitcoin was used mainly by programmers, cryptography enthusiasts, and people interested in independence from the traditional financial system. It was difficult to use, required technical knowledge, and lacked a developed infrastructure. It was a phase of ideas and experimentation, not a mass market.
The turning point came when Bitcoin began to be viewed as an investment asset. Companies, funds, and professional investors started analyzing it as a portfolio component or a store of value. A key milestone was the entry of large companies into the BTC market and the emergence of regulated investment products, such as spot Bitcoin ETFs.
Today, Bitcoin is much easier to access. You can buy it through apps, exchanges, brokers, investment products, or Bitcoin ATMs. Users no longer need to understand the technical details of the blockchain to gain exposure to BTC. Bitcoin has evolved from a niche technology into a globally recognized financial asset.
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The adoption of Bitcoin is driven primarily by economic and practical factors:
The biggest barriers are:
The future of Bitcoin adoption will depend on the development of infrastructure, regulations, and ease of use.
ETFs — make it easier for traditional investors to access BTC without having to store the cryptocurrency themselves. They strengthen Bitcoin's position as an asset class.
Institutional adoption — can increase market credibility. However, banks, funds, and fintech companies need clear regulations, secure custody, and legal compliance.
Lightning Network could accelerate the use of BTC for payments, especially for small and frequent transactions.
Bitcoin as a means of payment - will develop more slowly than its role as an investment, mainly because of price volatility and regulatory issues. The most realistic scenario is that BTC will remain simultaneously an investment asset, a tool for transferring value, and an alternative financial infrastructure.
According to the cited estimates, about 365 million people worldwide own Bitcoin. These figures are approximate, since one person can have multiple wallets and exchanges hold BTC on behalf of many users.
Roughly 4.4–4.5% of the global population owns BTC. However, this does not mean that that many people use Bitcoin for payments on a daily basis.
There are over 56 million Bitcoin addresses with a positive balance. However, this does not mean there are 56 million users — one person can have multiple addresses.
In terms of overall cryptocurrency adoption, India leads the way. The United States, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Brazil also rank highly.
Yes. The number of Bitcoin owners is growing, and BTC remains the most prominent cryptocurrency in terms of recognition, market capitalization, and global reach.
It is estimated that approximately 740 million people worldwide use cryptocurrencies.
No. A Bitcoin address does not correspond to a specific user. A single person can have multiple addresses, and a single exchange address can serve multiple customers.
Because they provide easy, physical access to BTC—including with cash—and lower the barrier to entry for people who don’t want to start with an exchange.
They show that BTC adoption is maturing: digital assets are no longer just an application, but are becoming part of the real financial infrastructure.
Bitcoin does not have a central user registry. The data is sourced from on-chain addresses, exchanges, market reports, and estimates, so it should be treated as an approximation.
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Rothbard.eu is expanding its network of Bitcoin ATMs in Switzerland, offering the purchase and sale of BTC and other cryptocurrencies for cash. The machines are available, among other locations, in Zürich, Genève, Basel, Lausanne and Luzern, and their current status and available cash can be checked online on the operator’s map.
This material is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice.
