Asia Leads Global Crypto Returns with Massive 47% Surge

- Asia posts the highest crypto returns globally, driven by regulation and adoption. - Hong Kong's clear frameworks propel APAC crypto trading up 69% year-over-year. On September 23, 2025, Cryptopolitan reported that Asian cryptocurrency markets have outperformed their US and EU counterparts. Asia recorded an impressive 47% return over the past year, compared to 31% in the US and 29% in the EU. This surge is driven by regulatory clarity in Hong Kong, which is fostering institutional adoption, stablecoin usage, and retail-driven dynamics across the continent. In June 2025, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region saw crypto trade volumes soar 69% year-over-year to $2.36 trillion. According to Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget, Hong Kong’s structured and transparent approach to crypto regulation was a key catalyst for this growth. He noted that Hong Kong's clarity contrasts sharply with regulatory uncertainty in the US and EU, which has deterred institutional activity in those regions. A report from Fireblocks revealed that 56% of firms in Asia actively use stablecoins, while another 40% are preparing to do so, positioning the continent ahead of other regions where stablecoin adoption remains limited. In addition, Jeffrey Ding, chief analyst at HashKey Group, emphasized that Asia’s markets are primarily retail-driven, which leads to higher volatility and more speculative activity compared to the institution-heavy flows in the US and Europe. Capital flows have also shifted significantly toward Asia. The Bitcoin Exchange Reserve Ratio, a metric that compares US-based exchanges to offshore platforms, dropped from 0.10 in late 2024 to -0.24 by September 2025. This drop underscores the increased capital movement to Asian exchanges like Binance and OKX. Nations like South Korea, Vietnam, Pakistan, and India are leading regional growth across the APAC region, significantly boosting market performance. Consequently, these emerging markets will likely remain pivotal drivers of global crypto adoption and innovation. Although Asia’s surge has positioned it as a leader in crypto returns, analysts caution that the US continues to wield substantial influence over long-term cryptocurrency trends, as dollar liquidity and Federal Reserve monetary policies remain critical forces shaping the broader market.