UAE Leads World in Crypto Obsession, Study Finds

A study by Atmos ranks the UAE as the world’s most crypto-obsessed country due mostly to its high crypto ownership and adoption rates.

UAE Has Highest Crypto Ownership Rate Globally

According to a study by Atmos, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the world’s most crypto-obsessed country, with a score of 98.4. The Middle Eastern country is marginally ahead of second-ranked Singapore (97.5) and more than ten points ahead of the United States, which claimed the third spot with a score of 85.4.

The UAE’s top ranking comes against the backdrop of what the study report described as the country’s minimal Bitcoin ATM infrastructure. For context, the study indicates that the third-ranked United States has 29,834 ATMs, while the UAE is listed as having only one. However, despite this, the UAE’s crypto ownership rate of 25.3%, combined with its adoption rate of 210%, was enough to secure the top spot.

Commenting on the study’s findings, Nick Cooke, the CEO of Atmos, said:

Cryptocurrency adoption is not just about investment trends. It is reshaping financial systems worldwide. In some regions, it is a hedge against inflation and currency instability, while in others, it is a step toward a more digitized economy. What truly drives adoption is not just interest but accessibility. When regulatory clarity, payment integration, and real-world utility align, crypto moves from speculation to a fundamental part of everyday transactions.

Meanwhile, Canada, which boasts the second-highest number of Bitcoin ATMs (3,561), is ranked fourth with an overall score of 72. This score is attributed to its crypto ownership rate of 10.1% and an adoption rate of 225%. In Turkey, where economic uncertainty is spurred by a depreciating currency, the crypto ownership rate is the third highest (19.3%). However, the country’s low adoption rate, coupled with a meager number of Bitcoin ATMs (7), resulted in a score of 67.8, making it the fifth most crypto-friendly country.

Despite having a double-digit (11.5%) crypto ownership rate, Switzerland’s adoption rate of 90%, the lowest among the top-ranked countries, resulted in a score of 58.1. According to the study report, seventh-ranked Switzerland’s low adoption is indicative of a “maturing market rather than emerging adoption.”

South Korea, widely seen as a tech-forward nation, could only muster a score of 52.2, the lowest among the top-ranked countries. The study attributes this to the Asian country’s limited physical infrastructure.