Quick Breakdown
- APAC trading volume soars 69% year-over-year, driven by Vietnam, India, Pakistan, and South Korea.
- Corporate Bitcoin treasuries and stablecoin adoption are accelerating across Asia.
- Offshore platforms like Binance and OKX dominate liquidity as institutional capital shifts east.
Asia outpaces Western markets in crypto growth
Asia-Pacific (APAC) has emerged as the fastest-growing hub for cryptocurrency activity in 2025, surpassing both the United States and Europe in trading volumes, institutional investment, and retail participation.
According to Chainalysis, APAC’s trading activity rose from $1.4 trillion in June 2024 to $2.36 trillion in June 2025, a 69% increase, cementing its position as the world’s most dynamic crypto market. Vietnam, Pakistan, India, and South Korea are leading contributors to this surge.
South Korea signals strong investor demand
A CryptoQuant analysis of the Korea Premium Index, which tracks the price difference of Bitcoin on Korean exchanges versus global averages, shows consistently positive figures between +1.5% and +8% throughout 2025. This persistent premium highlights strong retail appetite and heavy trading among Korean investors.
Asia-Led Crypto Growth: Global Market Shifts
“When combined, these metrics reveal a decisive realignment: while the U.S. continues to anchor institutional credibility, the balance of growth, liquidity, and innovation is shifting eastward.” – By @xwinfinance pic.twitter.com/oj79yuB4Wx
— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) September 22, 2025
Institutional liquidity flows east
Liquidity is also shifting away from U.S.-based exchanges. The Bitcoin Exchange Reserve Ratio, comparing U.S. to offshore platforms, fell from 0.10 in late 2024 to -0.24 by September 2025. The trend suggests both institutional and retail investors are increasingly favouring platforms like Binance and OKX.
Stablecoin ecosystem expands in Asia
Stablecoins are becoming central to Asia’s financial infrastructure. A Fireblocks report found that 56% of Asia-based firms already use stablecoins, while another 40% are preparing to adopt them. Hong Kong’s regulatory frameworks, along with ongoing developments in China and Japan, are providing the clarity needed for mass adoption.
Bitcoin treasuries strengthen corporate balance sheets
Corporate and government-led Bitcoin accumulation is rising across Asia. At least 21 firms across China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand now hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets.
Japan’s Metaplanet, the region’s leading Bitcoin treasury firm, aims to acquire 210,000 BTC by 2027 and already holds more than 25,000 BTC. Taiwan’s Sora Ventures and Hong Kong’s HashKey Group are also expanding long-term accumulation strategies, with HashKey’s $500 million multi-currency DAT fund underlining the region’s push toward crypto as a reserve asset.
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