Chainalysis, in a blog post published on 9 October 2024 — based on an excerpt from their recent 2024 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report — revealed that Latin America is the fifth largest region in cryptocurrency activity, contributing 9.1% of the total value received between July 2023 and June 2024. Chainalysis highlighted that the region received nearly $415 billion during this period, surpassing Eastern Asia. According to the report, centralized exchanges (CEXs) dominate the crypto services landscape in Latin America, with 68.7% of users preferring these platforms—a figure just slightly behind North America.
Chainalysis noted that institutional and professional investors, who transact more than $10,000 at a time, drive much of the cryptocurrency transaction value in the region. The report also identified Latin America as the second fastest-growing region in the global cryptocurrency space, with year-over-year growth of approximately 42.5%. Chainalysis attributed this significant rise to robust crypto markets in countries like Venezuela, Argentina, and Brazil.
In terms of cryptocurrency value, Chainalysis reported that Argentina leads the region with $91.1 billion, followed closely by Brazil, which received $90.3 billion. According to the report’s Global Adoption Index, four Latin American countries rank among the top 20 globally: Brazil (9th), Mexico (13th), Venezuela (14th), and Argentina (15th). Chainalysis observed that stablecoin-based remittances are gaining momentum across the region, reflecting the growing demand for stable alternatives in countries facing economic challenges.
The report also explored Brazil’s institutional crypto market, which has rebounded after a brief decline in early 2023. Chainalysis found that institutional-sized transactions in Brazil surged by 48.4% between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. The resurgence, according to the report, is partly driven by the evolving regulatory landscape and the introduction of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Chainalysis further emphasized that institutional investors are increasingly viewing digital assets as valuable components of their portfolios.
In Venezuela, cryptocurrency activity continues to grow despite the uncertainty surrounding the Maduro regime. Chainalysis reported a 110% year-over-year increase in the country’s crypto market, far outpacing any other nation in the region. According to Chainalysis, Venezuelans are turning to cryptocurrency to hedge against the rapidly devaluing bolívar, with stablecoins providing a crucial lifeline for those seeking stability in an unstable economic environment.
The Caribbean, too, has seen a resurgence in cryptocurrency activity, Chainalysis observed. After a downturn following the collapse of FTX, crypto adoption in the region has accelerated, with mainstream exchanges like Coinbase and Binance seeing increased activity. Chainalysis concluded that the Caribbean is positioning itself as a key hub for crypto activity in the years ahead, thanks to the region’s adoption of blockchain and Web3 technologies.
Featured Image via Pixabay
Other Articles
Tesla share price plummets following lackluster Robotaxi reveal
No Comment! Be the first one.