Singapore and the United Arab Emirates have emerged as the top two “crypto-obsessed” countries worldwide, according to a new report from ApeX Protocol.
The study, shared with Cointelegraph, ranked countries based on ownership rates, adoption growth, search activity, and ATM availability. Singapore took the number one spot with a perfect score of 100, driven by 24.4% of its population owning cryptocurrency and leading the world in search activity with 2,000 crypto-related queries per 100,000 people. In 2021, only 11% of Singaporeans held digital assets, but the figure more than doubled by the following year.
UAE Sees Explosive Adoption Growth
Close behind, the UAE scored 99.7, ranking first globally for crypto ownership at 25.3%. Adoption in the Gulf nation has surged 210% since 2019, with a major boom in 2022 when over 34% of the population reported holding crypto.
ApeX’s report highlighted how both nations have positioned themselves as global hubs for digital asset innovation. “Crypto is no longer on the fringe,” a spokesperson from ApeX Protocol said. “It’s becoming part of how countries define their financial future… not just as an investment, but as a reflection of how people engage with technology, money, and trust in the digital age.”
US and Canada Lead in Infrastructure
The United States ranked third with a score of 98.5, supported by strong infrastructure. The country leads the world in crypto ATM availability with over 30,000 machines — ten times more than any other country — and has seen a 220% rise in crypto usage since 2019.
Canada placed fourth, boasting the highest adoption growth rate in the report at 225%. With 10.1% of its population holding crypto and 3,500 ATMs nationwide, Canada achieved a composite score of 64.7.
Turkey rounded out the top five with a score of 57.6. Nearly 19.3% of its population holds cryptocurrency, ranking third globally in ownership. Monthly search volumes remain high at around 1,000 queries per 100,000 people.
Other Countries in the Top 10
Germany (48.4), Switzerland (46.2), Australia (45.1), Argentina (37.6), and Indonesia (37.1) also featured in the top 10, reflecting a mix of rising adoption, robust infrastructure, and growing public interest.
Global Adoption Trends
Cointelegraph recently reported that the US has climbed to second place in Chainalysis’ 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, propelled by growing spot Bitcoin ETF inflows and clearer regulatory frameworks.
India maintained its top position for the third consecutive year, helping the Asia‑Pacific region lead in year‑on‑year growth with a 69% surge in crypto transaction value. Pakistan, Vietnam, and Brazil also ranked among the top five, while Nigeria slipped to sixth despite regulatory progress.