UAE Leads the Region in Cryptocurrency Adoption, Ranks 5th Worldwide
The country follows Singapore, the US, Lithuania, and Switzerland in adoption rankings.
Topics
News
- Nutanix and Pure Storage Launch Integrated Full-Stack Virtual Infrastructure
- UAE Leads the Region in Cryptocurrency Adoption, Ranks 5th Worldwide
- SpaceX’s IPO Plans and Tesla’s Pay Package Reveal the Economics of Elon Musk’s Ventures
- UAE Bets on AI to Transform Smallholder Farming With New Research Institute
- Why OpenAI Is Abandoning Vesting Cliffs in the Race for AI Talent
- UAE’s AI Ambitions Collide With Infrastructure Limits, Kyndryl Report Warns
The United Arab Emirates has become the top country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for cryptocurrency adoption, as per Bybit and DL Research’s World Crypto Rankings 2025 report.
Solidifying its position as a regional hub for asset tokenization and settlement systems, the UAE acts as a bridge between Asia, Europe, and Africa for digital finance. This strategic placement has enabled the UAE to rank fifth globally in cryptocurrency adoption.
In the UAE, Dubai has evolved into a policy-first global tokenization centre, offering clear anti-money laundering (AML) guidelines, legal frameworks for digital asset providers, and an attractive environment for talent and enterprises.
The UAE follows Singapore, the US, Lithuania, and Switzerland in adoption rankings.
Saudi Arabia has also strengthened its digital asset infrastructure and is now expanding licensing regimes, leading to growing public interest in cryptocurrency.
The report categorizes MENA as a “hybrid region,” where countries like the UAE lead through strong institutions. At the same time, in poorer economies, people adopt cryptocurrency as a practical solution to inflation, capital controls, and limited access to banking. Although regulation and infrastructure are still weak in parts of the region, growing interest among younger people could drive rapid growth if the right policies are implemented.
Globally, the report states that crypto adoption grows fastest where strong infrastructure, clear rules, and institutional support converge.
Among the top five countries, each has taken a different path: Singapore benefits from high digital skills and clear licensing, the US drives adoption through ETFs and large institutional investors, Lithuania uses its position within the EU under MiCA, Switzerland blends clear laws with everyday acceptance, and the UAE combines bold government policy with strong user demand.
