Digital asset adoption is splitting along two distinct behavioral tracks, driven by sharply different user profiles and motivations.
Visa's survey of 14,250 consumers across 14 Asia-Pacific markets found 46 percent likely to use stablecoins within five years, up from 16 percent who used them in the preceding 12 months. The appeal centers on cross-border transactions: 49 percent of respondents believe stablecoins could become a common method for international money transfers.
Yet a critical gap persists between awareness and functional understanding. Sixty-six percent of respondents had heard of stablecoins, but only 6 percent demonstrated an accurate understanding of how they work. Among those aware but never users, 38 percent cited fraud or scam concerns and 36 percent pointed to limited understanding as barriers to adoption.
CoinShares' survey of affluent investors across the U.S. and six European markets—covering 2,230 respondents—paints a starkly different picture. A majority already hold digital assets: holdings ranged from 54 percent in Sweden to approximately 70 percent in the U.S. U.K. Germany and Switzerland. Average allocations cluster near 10 percent of total portfolios.
These investors cite long-term appreciation and portfolio diversification as primary drivers—not short-term speculation. Eighty-five percent or more of current crypto holders in five of seven surveyed markets plan to increase digital asset exposure during 2026, reaching 91 percent in the U.S. U.K. and Germany.
Regulatory clarity matters to this cohort. Seventy-nine percent favor greater digital asset regulation, and 69 percent would consider engaging with a wealth manager offering crypto expertise.
