A recent report by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis reveals that North America continues to hold the top position in the global cryptocurrency market, driven largely by institutional investors. From July 2023 to June 2024, North America generated a remarkable $1.3 trillion in on-chain value, making up about 22.5% of the worldwide crypto activity. This dominance is attributed primarily to substantial institutional transactions, with nearly 70% of crypto transfers in the region involving amounts over $1 million.
One of the main catalysts for this surge has been the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States, which have opened the door to new liquidity and mainstream adoption. Regulatory clarity following landmark legal decisions in 2024, such as those concerning Ripple and Grayscale, has encouraged major financial players like BlackRock and Fidelity to enter the crypto space through ETFs. In October, spot Bitcoin ETFs witnessed record inflows of over $1 billion in a single day, underscoring the strong demand from institutional investors across North America.
Canada also plays a vital role in North America’s market leadership, with its well-regulated financial system and infrastructure fostering $119 billion in crypto transactions over the same period. Both the U.S. and Canada’s proactive stance in establishing clearer crypto regulations has attracted more institutional interest, even as regulatory efforts continue to evolve globally.
Despite North America’s leadership, challenges remain. The report notes that while institutional activity is high, retail adoption in the U.S. has not fully returned to its previous peak levels from the last bull market. In contrast, retail investors in emerging markets are increasingly turning to stablecoins and other digital assets as accessible financial tools. Furthermore, regulatory uncertainty around stablecoins in the U.S. has driven some stablecoin activity offshore, where regions like the UAE and the European Union offer clearer legal frameworks for digital assets.
With institutional interest at an all-time high, North America’s crypto market is poised for continued growth, although competition from regions with more defined crypto regulations may impact its future position.