Nearly one in four adults in the region now use digital assets as APAC cements its role as the world’s most dynamic market for adoption.
A new study released ahead of Consensus Hong Kong 2026 shows that the Asia Pacific has become the global centre of gravity for digital asset usage, with approximately 535 million people now using digital assets. This places the region far ahead of the global average of 16.9% and home to nearly six in ten of the world’s users.
The APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025: Stablecoins, Tokenization & Integration report, based on a survey of more than 4,000 adults, highlights accelerating adoption fuelled by regulatory clarity, embedded financial use cases, and the rapid rise of stablecoins across emerging markets.
Michael Lau, Chairman of Consensus, said: “APAC continues to shape the global digital economy, not only through innovation, but through its capacity to turn innovation into inclusion through tools they use in daily life.”
More than 90% of respondents across APAC are aware of cryptocurrency, and over half intend to use it within the next year, twice the proportion who already do. The report notes that the barrier to further growth is not demand but accessibility: users require digital assets to be integrated into trusted financial systems they already rely on.
Stablecoins and Remittances Drive Real-World Usage
Stablecoin adoption has surged, with 17.8% of adults in emerging markets using them. Thailand leads at 30%, followed by the UAE (26%) and Hong Kong (18%). Stablecoins have also become central to cross-border payments. 29% of remittance users across APAC now rely on stablecoin rails, representing an estimated US$72 billion in annualised flows. Usage is highest in India (58%), Thailand (44%), and the UAE (38%).
A Region Defined by Regulatory Clarity
APAC markets continue to progress with virtual-asset service provider licensing frameworks. Thailand reports the highest adoption overall at 42% for the second year running, with Singapore (28%) and Hong Kong (27%). Despite varied regulatory trajectories, the report finds a common trend: jurisdictions providing clear rules are driving faster, safer integration of digital assets into mainstream finance.
The Road to Consensus Hong Kong 2026
The findings set the stage for Consensus Hong Kong 2026, where policymakers, financial institutions, and industry leaders will explore the regional innovations, models, and policy frameworks shaping digital asset adoption.
Read the full report here.
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