Latin American crypto services provider Bitso has released its 2025 Latin America Crypto Landscape report, forecasting a major structural shift in the region's digital asset market. Analyzing data from roughly 10 million customers across key markets including Argentina and Mexico, the report predicts that by 2025, about 40% of all cryptocurrency purchases in the region will involve stablecoins such as USDT and USDC.
Stablecoin Buying Outpaces Bitcoin
The data shows that USDC leads purchase volume at 23%, surpassing Bitcoin (18%) and USDT (16%). This trend reflects growing user preference for stablecoins as a medium of exchange and store of value rather than purely speculative assets. In Argentina, where chronic inflation and capital controls persist, USDC and USDT together account for more than 70% of all crypto purchases, highlighting strong demand for dollar-pegged alternatives to the local currency.
Bitcoin Remains the Top Holding
Despite stablecoins dominating new purchases, Bitcoin still constitutes the largest share of regional investment portfolios at 52%. This suggests that while stablecoins are used for daily transactions, savings, and cross-border remittances, Bitcoin serves as a long-term hedge against inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Unique Drivers in Latin America
Unlike mature markets, crypto adoption in Latin America is heavily influenced by macroeconomic instability and currency volatility. The Bitso report emphasizes that stablecoin growth is fueled by real financial needs: in Argentina and Venezuela, locals seek dollar stability; in remittance-heavy markets like Mexico, stablecoins cut transfer costs; in Brazil and Chile, businesses adopt them for payroll and payments. The report concludes that a clear dichotomy is emerging: stablecoins for spending, Bitcoin for holding.