Almost Half of Global Investors Turn to Crypto as Hedge Against Inflation, Survey Shows

Group 1: Crypto as an Inflation Hedge - Nearly half of global crypto users (46%) now view digital assets as a way to guard against inflation, a significant increase from 29% earlier in the year, indicating rising concerns over price pressures and currency weakness [1] - East Asia saw the most substantial increase, with users citing crypto as an inflation shield rising from 23% to 52%, while the Middle East increased from 27% to 45%, highlighting the connection between macroeconomic stress and digital asset adoption [2][7] Group 2: Regional Trends in Crypto Adoption - Latin America has become a cultural hub for crypto, with ownership of memecoins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu increasing from 27% to 34%, and 63% of new users motivated by passive income [3] - In South Asia, spot trading rose to 52% from 45%, with over half of respondents citing financial independence as their main motivation, and futures trading at 46%, compared to a global average of 29% [4] Group 3: Core Holdings and Investment Strategies - Bitcoin and Ethereum remain the core holdings for over 65% of investors globally, with the highest confidence in Latin America and Southeast Asia, reflecting a strong belief in blockchain infrastructure [5] - Stablecoin holdings are steady at about 50% worldwide, indicating a balance between caution and the pursuit of yield [5] Group 4: Wealth Distribution and Market Dynamics - There are notable regional differences in trading strategies, with South Asia and Southeast Asia favoring futures trading, while Latin America is shifting towards safer, lower-risk approaches [6] - High-value wallets above $20,000 in East Asia decreased from 39% to 33%, suggesting regulatory pressure and profit-taking, while mid-tier wallets are growing, indicating a broader asset distribution among retail participants [6]