Stablecoin Adoption Surpasses Bitcoin in Latin America Amid Economic Pressures

Digital asset adoption in Latin America is evolving, with more users now converting funds into stablecoins than into Bitcoin — a shift that reflects growing pressure from local economic conditions.

According to Bitso’s 2025 report on crypto adoption in Latin America, 40% of crypto purchases in 2025 were US dollar-linked stablecoins such as Tether’s USDt (USDT) and Circle’s USDC (USDC), while Bitcoin (BTC) accounted for 18%. The report marks the first time stablecoin purchases have surpassed Bitcoin in the region.

The findings are based on data from Bitso’s nearly 10 million retail users across its exchange platform.

The trend reflects a broader move toward what the Latin American crypto exchange described as “digital dollarization.” In countries facing persistent inflation, currency depreciation and limited access to traditional banking, stablecoins offer a relatively accessible way to store value and transact in US dollar equivalents.

While the US dollar itself is not immune to inflation, it tends to depreciate more slowly than many local currencies and remains the world’s dominant medium of exchange, making it an attractive benchmark for users seeking stability.

The global stablecoin market has grown to roughly $320 billion, with adoption expanding across both developed and emerging economies. Their Latin American regional appeal is particularly practical: users rely on stablecoins for preserving savings, making payments and sending cross-border remittances.

Use of home-grown stablecoins is benefiting from the expansion. Brazilian retail giant Mercado Libre in early April launched a cross-border remittance product using the Meli dollar stablecoin for users in Brazil, Mexico and Chile, Cointelegraph Brasil reported. That came after the retailer discontinued issuing its own stablecoin, Mercado Coin, earlier this year.

Bitcoin remains dominant as a store of value

While Bitcoin purchases have declined as a share of total activity, the Bitso report shows the asset still plays a central role as a long-term savings vehicle in Latin America.

“Bitcoin continues to function as Latin America’s primary long-term digital store of value,” the report said, noting that the cryptocurrency is held in 52% of crypto portfolios across the region in 2025. That’s down only slightly from 53% the previous year.

Bitcoin has long been viewed as a store of value, despite periods of volatility and uneven performance compared with previous market cycles. The asset rose above $126,000 in October before pulling back sharply, with prices later trading in the low $60,000 range.

Recent research by index maker MarketVector reframes the store-of-value narrative beyond price performance alone, arguing that Bitcoin and gold share core traits, including scarcity, decentralization and resistance to supply expansion, that underpin their long-term value.