Singapore tops adoption, US dominates jobs – Crypto News

A quarter of Singapore’s population now owns cryptocurrency, making it the world’s most cryptocurrency-enthusiastic country, and American blockchain professionals command the highest salaries globally at $148,100 on average. The figures come from two comprehensive studies which together help map the global digital asset landscape for 2025.

The research from ApeX Protocol and Taurex comes as the global cryptocurrency market surpassed US$3 trillion in valuation, with findings that challenge assumptions about where digital asset enthusiasm translates into professional opportunity.

While Singapore achieved a perfect adoption score through dramatic user growth and exceptional online engagement, the United States used superior infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to create the world’s most lucrative cryptocurrency employment market.

The studies employed different methods – ApeX Protocol weighted population ownership, adoption growth, search activity and ATM infrastructure, while Taurex analysed job listings, salaries, search interest and regulatory environments.

Singapore dominates cryptocurrency adoption rankings

Singapore achieved a perfect composite score of 100 in ApeX Protocol’s analysis, establishing it among the most cryptocurrency-obsessed countries globally. The city-state’s remarkable transformation is evident in its adoption trajectory – cryptocurrency ownership surged from just 11% in 2021 to 24.4% by 2024, representing more than a doubling of the user base.

“Singapore leads with the most cryptocurrency-related online searches, recording 2,575 queries per 100,000 people,” the ApeX Protocol report states. The exceptional engagement reflects the nation’s tech-forward approach and regulatory clarity around digital assets.

In Taurex’s employment analysis, Singapore secured fourth place as East Asia’s premier cryptocurrency hub, currently showing 72 job listings with attractive average salaries of $104,300. Singapore residents demonstrate the highest interest in cryptocurrency careers among ranked nations, with 11.5% of locals owning Bitcoin and the country maintaining a strong pro-cryptocurrency regulatory framework.

US leads professional opportunities despite third place in adoption

While ranking third in cryptocurrency adoption among cryptocurrency-obsessed countries with a score of 98.5, the US dominates the professional landscape. According to Taurex research, America leads with 292 active job listings and the highest average salary at $148,100 for cryptocurrency positions.

America’s infrastructure advantage is evident through its 30,240 cryptocurrency ATMs – ten times more than any other nation analysed. This, combined with 170 cryptocurrency companies headquartered domestically and a strong regulatory score of 8.9, positions the US as the premier destination for cryptocurrency professionals despite its third-place adoption ranking.

The nation maintains a 15% Bitcoin ownership rate while generating significant search interest in cryptocurrency, Web3, and blockchain job categories, demonstrating how infrastructure and regulatory clarity can drive professional opportunities even where adoption rates lag behind leaders.

UAE emerges as regional powerhouse

The United Arab Emirates exemplifies how cryptocurrency-obsessed countries can excel in multiple metrics. In adoption rankings, the UAE secured second place with a score of 99.7, boasting the world’s highest cryptocurrency ownership rate at 25.3%.

The UAE’s professional market reflects this enthusiasm, with Taurex ranking it second globally for cryptocurrency opportunities. The nation offers competitive salaries averaging $111,483, while UAE residents actively seek cryptocurrency employment online. The country’s cryptocurrency adoption boom in 2022 saw over a third of the population (34%) reporting cryptocurrency holdings.

“The UAE posts the highest Bitcoin ownership rate globally at 27.2%,” according to Taurex analysis, with search data showing residents actively pursuing cryptocurrency career opportunities.

Regional patterns emerge in cryptocurrency-obsessed countries

Canada demonstrates consistent performance in both studies, placed fourth in adoption with a composite score of 64 and sixth in professional opportunities. It achieved the highest adoption growth rate at 225% and offered an attractive average compensation of $98,800 for cryptocurrency positions.

Canada hosts the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency ATM network with 3,608 machines and hosts 28 cryptocurrency companies. Turkey completed the top five most cryptocurrency-involved countries in adoption rankings with a score of 57.6, demonstrating retail interest with 19.3% of its population holding digital assets.

However, Turkey didn’t feature in Taurex’s top ten employment destinations.

European markets balance innovation with regulation

Switzerland presents an interesting case, ranking seventh in adoption with a score of 46.2 and offering the second-highest average cryptocurrency salary at $121,900, according to Taurex. The home of “Cryptocurrency Valley” demonstrates engagement with 2,126 cryptocurrency-related searches per 100,000 people, second only to Singapore.

“Switzerland shows the most cryptocurrency-welcoming regulatory score at 9.5,” notes Taurex research, yet in a country where adoption rates remain moderate at 11.5%.

Germany leads European representation in adoption rankings at sixth place with a score of 48.4, while Taurex positioned it eighth for employment opportunities. The nation mirrors Canada’s 225% adoption growth and Germany leads Europe in cryptocurrency job availability, with 84 active listings. Salaries are competitive, averaging $96,553.

The United Kingdom holds fifth place in Taurex’s employment analysis as Europe’s leading cryptocurrency market, providing 66 active job opportunities with competitive salaries averaging $97,204. British professionals demonstrate strong sector interest, actively searching in all cryptocurrency job categories, and the country hosts 29 cryptocurrency companies.

Emerging markets show mixed results

India presents a contrast between adoption and professional opportunities. While not featuring in ApeX Protocol’s top ten most cryptocurrency-involved countries, Taurex ranked India third for employment opportunities, offering 45 active cryptocurrency job openings with salaries averaging $83,687.

India hosts 173 cryptocurrency companies – the second-highest globally – and has the world’s largest Bitcoin-owning population with nearly 95 million citizens holding cryptocurrency.

Argentina represents the sole South American entry in adoption rankings, placing ninth with 37.6 points and showing notable retail adoption, with 18.9% of citizens holding cryptocurrency alongside 87.5% growth rates.

Geographic specialisation drives opportunities

The research reveals distinct regional strategies among cryptocurrency-using countries. “The data reveals a clear geographic concentration of cryptocurrency opportunities in established financial centres and innovation hubs,” according to Taurex.

“We’re seeing three distinct regional strategies: North American markets leading in compensation and job volume, Middle Eastern countries pioneering adoption-first approaches, and European nations focusing on regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with stability.”

The geographic specialisation provides cryptocurrency enthusiasts with diverse pathways, whether seeking high-adoption environments or professional opportunities. The correlation between cryptocurrency involvement and the presence of employment prospects isn’t absolute, suggesting different markets serve different roles in the global ecosystem.

The method divide reveals deeper market truths

The differences in methods between these studies asks the question: Does grassroots adoption automatically translate into sustainable economic opportunity?

ApeX Protocol’s consumer-focused approach – weighting ownership rates (30%), adoption growth (25%), search activity (25%), and ATM availability (20%) – identifies markets where cryptocurrency has achieved cultural penetration. Taurex’s employment-centric analysis, evaluating job listings, compensation levels, regulatory frameworks, and corporate presence, reveals where institutional infrastructure has matured.

Countries like Singapore demonstrate that sophisticated regulatory frameworks can drive retail adoption and professional development, while markets like India show how large-scale adoption without supporting infrastructure doesn’t automatically generate premium employment opportunities.

Yet the studies reveal several uncomfortable truths about global economic inequality. The $86,450 salary gap between Swiss and Polish cryptocurrency professionals – both countries exhibiting similar regulatory scores – suggests that cryptocurrency, despite its decentralised promise, reflects existing patterns of geographic economic advantage.

The real test for cryptocurrency-forward nations is whether they can maintain momentum as regulatory arbitrage opportunities diminish and the sector matures. Early movers like Singapore and the UAE have used permissive regulations to attract users and businesses, but as global standards converge, its competitive advantages may erode.

The US’s infrastructure-led approach may prove more durable, building on capital markets and technological capabilities, not regulatory differentiation. Geographic specialisation suggests the cryptocurrency sector is following traditional economic development patterns, with established financial centres using their existing advantages, and emerging markets competing through regulatory flexibility.

(Photo by Kanchanara)

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Tags: cryptocurrency, research