Latin American customers have elevated their reliance on stablecoins, with dollar-pegged tokens now accounting for a bigger share of crypto purchases than Bitcoin.
Abstract
- Stablecoins accounted for 40% of crypto purchases on Bitso in 2025, overtaking Bitcoin at 18% for the primary time.
- Bitso mentioned practically 10 million customers are more and more utilizing dollar-pegged tokens to retailer worth and ship funds in inflation-hit economies.
- Bitcoin remained in 52% of portfolios in 2025, with Bitso describing it because the area’s main long run retailer of worth.
In line with Bitso’s 2025 crypto adoption report, 40% of purchases on its platform concerned U.S. dollar-linked stablecoins reminiscent of Tether’s USDt and Circle’s USDC, whereas Bitcoin accounted for 18%, the primary time stablecoins have overtaken the asset within the area. The trade primarily based its findings on exercise from practically 10 million retail customers throughout Latin America.
Bitso mentioned the sample factors to rising demand for what it described as “digital dollarization,” as customers in inflation-prone economies search alternate options to weakening native currencies.
International locations coping with persistent worth instability and restricted entry to banking companies have seen customers flip to stablecoins to retailer worth, make funds, and ship remittances tied to the U.S. greenback.
Whereas the U.S. greenback itself faces inflation, Bitso famous it stays comparatively extra steady than many regional currencies and continues to function a dominant unit of trade, making dollar-pegged property engaging for each day monetary use.
Progress in world provide has supported that pattern, with the stablecoin market reaching roughly $320 billion, increasing throughout each rising and developed markets. Regional use circumstances proceed to centre on funds and cross-border transfers, the place entry to greenback liquidity typically stays restricted by means of conventional channels.
Developments in native markets have adopted. As beforehand reported by crypto.information, Mercado Libre launched a cross-border remittance product in early April utilizing its Meli greenback stablecoin throughout Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. The rollout got here after the corporate discontinued its earlier Mercado Coin issuance this yr.
Bitso’s report mentioned Bitcoin nonetheless holds a central place in portfolios regardless of diminished buy share, with the asset current in 52% of holdings in 2025, in contrast with 53% a yr earlier. The trade described Bitcoin because the area’s main long-term digital retailer of worth, whilst short-term shopping for exercise has tilted towards stablecoins.
Worth actions over the previous yr have strengthened its blended profile, with Bitcoin rising above $126,000 in October earlier than retreating to ranges within the low $60,000 vary.
Analysis from MarketVector highlighted traits reminiscent of mounted provide, decentralised construction, and resistance to modifications in issuance, putting Bitcoin alongside gold in long-term value-preservation frameworks.
