BitGo said in a new report that the number of global cryptocurrency holders has climbed to 716 million, pushing digital assets to a scale that banks can no longer ignore. In the report, the company argues that crypto is no longer limited to speculation. It is starting to reshape how banks attract deposits, generate revenue, and move money across borders. For traditional lenders, the question is no longer whether to engage with digital assets, but how to enter the market with secure and compliant infrastructure.
Young investors are already allocating part of their portfolios
The report estimates that monthly active crypto users stand at roughly 40 million to 70 million worldwide. It also points to a demographic shift. Among surveyed Americans under 43, an average of 14% of their investment portfolios is allocated to crypto assets. BitGo says this matters for banks because customers who cannot access relevant services through traditional institutions may continue moving funds to crypto exchanges and fintech platforms instead.
Stablecoin activity is now measured in trillions
BitGo also highlighted the rapid expansion of stablecoin usage. According to the report, monthly stablecoin settlement volume now routinely exceeds $1 trillion. That level, it said, is large enough to rival and in some cases surpass traditional card payment networks. The report presents this as evidence that digital assets are moving beyond trading activity and becoming part of practical financial infrastructure.
Clearer rules are opening new revenue channels for banks
On regulation, BitGo said the environment is becoming easier for banks to assess. In the United States, the GENIUS Act is described as paving the way for bank-issued stablecoins. In Europe, the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, or MiCA, is setting unified standards for cross-border services. As the regulatory picture sharpens, the barriers to entering digital asset services appear lower.
The report outlined several revenue opportunities for banks. These include custody, issuance, and conversion services tied to stablecoins, which could produce fee income and spread revenue. It also pointed to regulated trading and staking services as potential sources of commissions and service-sharing income. In cross-border payments and treasury management, stablecoins were presented as a way to lower remittance costs and support corporate clients managing digital asset treasuries.
Tokenization is framed as the next large market
BitGo added that, in an optimistic scenario, tokenized assets could reach $23.4 trillion by 2033. The report’s core message is simple: digital assets are shifting from an optional experiment to an infrastructure decision for banks, and institutions that build compliant custody and service capabilities sooner may be better positioned to capture that business.