Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, announced that by 2026, 77 percent of its users will come from emerging markets. This marks a significant rise from 49 percent in 2020, underlining an accelerating trend where investors in developing countries increasingly turn to crypto platforms for saving, payment, and investment purposes.
Emerging markets’ rapid adoption
A recent report from Binance Research highlights that the surge in crypto adoption is driven less by speculation and more by the need for financial access. According to the report, 83 percent of users who utilize two or more Binance products are also based in emerging economies. Compared to users in developed nations, these individuals save at twice the rate, pointing to the increasing importance of crypto for capital preservation in countries with limited financial services.
The report also reveals that 36 percent of users in these markets who have at least $10 in their Binance accounts allocate half or more of their portfolio to stablecoins. Globally, stablecoin holdings as a share of user portfolios jumped from 4 percent in 2020 to 28 percent in 2026, reflecting a dramatic shift toward stable digital assets as a means of preserving value against volatile local currencies.
These figures suggest that in regions with underdeveloped banking systems, cryptocurrency exchanges are increasingly being used as alternative financial infrastructure, offering access and utility where traditional institutions struggle to reach.
Financial access and digital change
World Bank data shows that 1.3 billion adults worldwide still lack access to formal financial services. Yet among them, 900 million own cell phones and 530 million have smartphones, creating a vast pool of potential digital finance users. Binance stresses that roughly 4.7 billion adults face challenges accessing credit, and 3.6 billion people do not use digital payments or cards. Notably, 1.4 billion people in low and middle-income countries earn no interest on their savings, underscoring the large gap that digital platforms can help bridge.
In markets with low levels of financial inclusion, Binance underscores the advantages offered by cryptocurrencies, especially stablecoins. Stablecoin transfers not only provide high transaction speed but also substantially lower costs; according to Binance data, fees can fall as low as $0.0001 per transfer, with rapid settlement times. In contrast, a single transfer via international SWIFT can cost at least $20. Recent World Bank figures confirm that average global remittance fees still exceed the United Nations’ target level of 3 percent, emphasizing the cost-saving potential of stable digital assets.
Stabilcoin growth and systemic challenges
Stablecoins’ growing dominance in developing markets is largely linked to their use for international payments and storing value at lower transfer costs. Tax authorities in Brazil report that up to 90 percent of the country’s crypto trading volume involves stablecoins, highlighting their impact in regions facing currency volatility and high remittance costs.
However, organizations like Moody’s and the International Monetary Fund warn that the widespread use of stablecoins could undermine control over national currencies and introduce new vulnerabilities into financial systems. These concerns remain front of mind for regulators as stablecoins take root in countries lacking robust monetary infrastructure.
Binance’s research notes, “While adoption of cryptocurrencies as investment and financial access tools is rapidly growing—especially among users in emerging markets—these users are increasingly allocating their funds to stablecoins.”
Amid these trends, the outlook suggests that, as long as financial service gaps persist, crypto platforms will see growing participation across developing nations in the coming years.
