Digital asset adoption in Latin America is evolving, with extra customers now changing funds into stablecoins than into Bitcoin — a shift that displays rising strain from native financial circumstances.
In line with Bitso’s 2025 report on crypto adoption in Latin America, 40% of crypto purchases in 2025 have been US dollar-linked stablecoins akin to Tether’s USDt (USDT) and Circle’s USDC (USDC), whereas Bitcoin (BTC) accounted for 18%. The report marks the primary time stablecoin purchases have surpassed Bitcoin within the area.
The findings are primarily based on information from Bitso’s practically 10 million retail customers throughout its trade platform.
The pattern displays a broader transfer towards what the Latin American crypto trade described as “digital dollarization.” In nations dealing with persistent inflation, forex depreciation and restricted entry to conventional banking, stablecoins supply a comparatively accessible approach to retailer worth and transact in US greenback equivalents.
Whereas the US greenback itself isn’t proof against inflation, it tends to depreciate extra slowly than many native currencies and stays the world’s dominant medium of trade, making it a gorgeous benchmark for customers searching for stability.
Essentially the most bought belongings in 2025 throughout Latin America. Supply: Bitso
The worldwide stablecoin market has grown to roughly $320 billion, with adoption increasing throughout each developed and rising economies. Their Latin American regional enchantment is especially sensible: customers depend on stablecoins for preserving financial savings, making funds and sending cross-border remittances.
Use of home-grown stablecoins is benefiting from the enlargement. Brazilian retail big Mercado Libre in early April launched a cross-border remittance product utilizing the Meli greenback stablecoin for customers in Brazil, Mexico and Chile, Cointelegraph Brasil reported. That got here after the retailer discontinued issuing its personal stablecoin, Mercado Coin, earlier this 12 months.
Associated: Visa provides Polygon, Base help as stablecoin settlement run price hits $7B
Bitcoin stays dominant as a retailer of worth
Whereas Bitcoin purchases have declined as a share of whole exercise, the Bitso report exhibits the asset nonetheless performs a central position as a long-term financial savings automobile in Latin America.
“Bitcoin continues to perform as Latin America’s main long-term digital retailer of worth,” the report stated, noting that the cryptocurrency is held in 52% of crypto portfolios throughout the area in 2025. That’s down solely barely from 53% the earlier 12 months.
Bitcoin has lengthy been considered as a retailer of worth, regardless of durations of volatility and uneven efficiency in contrast with earlier market cycles. The asset rose above $126,000 in October earlier than pulling again sharply, with costs later buying and selling within the low $60,000 vary.
Current analysis by index maker MarketVector reframes the store-of-value narrative past worth efficiency alone, arguing that Bitcoin and gold share core traits, together with shortage, decentralization and resistance to produce enlargement, that underpin their long-term worth.
A comparability of Bitcoin’s worth efficiency, volatility and drawdowns since inception. Supply: MarketVector Indexes
Associated: Did Bitcoin backside versus gold? BTC worth will attain $167K in 2027 if historical past repeats
