80+ Global Cryptocurrency Statistics for 2022 - Crypto Crime Stats

Cryptocurrencies remain a hot topic of conversation no matter which way the market is moving. The top crypto exchanges have an ever-changing value, making them a sought-after investment, and their wide price range makes them popular and accessible regardless of an investor’s income. Because of their innovative approach to investment, cryptocurrencies are making themselves the subject of conversation worldwide. But how much do people really know about cryptocurrency?

A few names pop out when it comes to cryptocurrency: Most people have heard of Bitcoin, and Ethereum (and the Ether coin, or ETH) is becoming more and more well-known across social media. But out of the thousands of cryptocurrencies available across the global internet, how many are really household names? To find out, we’ve surveyed 2,001 U.S. adults to see which cryptocurrencies they’re familiar with — and conducted an analysis of millions of Google searches relating to cryptocurrency all over the world. 

In a Nutshell: What We Found

Our data reveal that:

• 65.9 million U.S. adults have heard of Dogecoin, making it the most well-known alternative to Bitcoin on the crypto market. That’s 1 in 5 people (or 20%). 

• Dogecoin is also the most popular alternative to Bitcoin online, with people across the world carrying out as many as 2,800,000 average searches for “Dogecoin” each month. 

• Despite this, Ether is the most talked-about altcoin on social media, acquiring a total of 8,500,000 hashtags on Instagram alone.

• One in 6 U.S. adults are aware of Ether, making it the third most well-known cryptocurrency online (15.4%).

• Men are more likely to be familiar with Bitcoin alternatives than women, with three times as many men as women having heard of Ether (23% vs 8.2%).

• Young adults represent the age group least likely to be familiar with Bitcoin, with only 67.9% of adults between 18 and 24 saying that they know about Bitcoin at all.

• In contrast, U.S. adults aged 65+ are the most likely to know about Bitcoin, with as many as 79.5% answering that they’re familiar with the cryptocurrency.

Our Survey Question: What Crypto Have You Heard Of?

To find out which cryptocurrencies are the most well-known in the U.S., we used Google Surveys to ask 2,001 adults across the country which types of crypto they’ve heard of. We then separated respondents into demographic groups by gender and age (from 18–24 up to 65+) to find out which demographics are more likely to know about certain cryptocurrencies. Because our respondents could choose to select more than one answer, the percentage totals do not add up to 100%. 

Our survey asked:

• Which of the following cryptocurrencies have you heard of?

• Bitcoin

• Dogecoin

• Ether

• Litecoin

• Tether

• XRP (Ripple)

• None

• Other (please specify)

The Most Well-Known Cryptocurrencies

So, which cryptocurrencies are the most well-known in the U.S.? Our survey found that:

1. As many as three-quarters of the adult population in the U.S. has heard of Bitcoin (74.5%).
2. Dogecoin is the most well-known alternative to Bitcoin in the U.S., with 1 in 5 U.S. adults having heard of it (20.5%). 
3. Ether is the second most heard-of alternative to Bitcoin, with 1 in 6 U.S. adults saying that they’re familiar with it (15.4%).
4. 1 in 10 U.S. adults have heard of Litecoin and Tether respectively (9.9% and 9.8%). 
5. Only 1 in 20 adults in the U.S.A have not yet heard of any of these cryptocurrencies.
6. In other words, some 95% of U.S. adults have heard of at least 1 cryptocurrency

Crypto stats by demographic: Who's Most Likely to Have Heard of Different Cryptocurrencies? Men or Women?

Cryptocurrency is a form of investment available to anyone; but does gender affect how likely someone is to know about it? And does it affect what types of crypto people are likely to know about? To find out, we separated our survey respondents into men and women. We found that:

7. Nearly 3 times as many men as womenhave heard about Ether (23% vs 8.2%).

8. Men are also more likely to know about alternatives to Bitcoin, with more men than women having heard of Dogecoin, Ether, Tether, Bitcoin and XRP.

9. Women are less likely to know about cryptocurrency altogether, with 3 times as many women as men answering that they haven’t heard of any cryptocurrencies at all (7.4% vs 2.4%).

10. Despite this, slightly more women than men have heard about Bitcoin (74.8% vs 74.2%).

Crypto Stats by Demographic: Does Age Affect Understanding of Cryptocurrency in the U.S.?

Investments require savings, and savings take time to accumulate. Knowing this, does a person’s age determine how much they know about cryptocurrency? We separated survey respondents into age groups from 18–24 up to 65+ to find out just how much age determines knowledge of cryptocurrencies across the U.S..

11. Older Americans are the most likely to know about Bitcoin, with nearly 80% of respondents over the age of 65 having heard of it (79.5%).

12. In comparison, only 67.9% of young adults between 18 and 24 are familiar with Bitcoin, 11.6% less than adults over 65.

13. However, young adults are the age group most likely to know about Bitcoin alternatives, with respondents between 18 and 24 answering that they’re more familiar with Dogecoin, Ether, Litecoin, Tether and XRP than is any other age group. 

The Most Googled Cryptocurrencies Around the World

While Bitcoin takes the cake as the most well-known cryptocurrency around the world, there are plenty of other currencies vying for popularity. So which cryptocurrencies are on the rise in 2022? To find out, we used Semrush Inc. to analyze average monthly Google search data for a range of cryptocurrencies in each country across the globe. Then, we used this data to find out which currency is the most popular in each country. We left out countries with no search data available, leaving a list of 120 countries worldwide, and organized the lists in order from the most to the least searched-for cryptocurrency in each country. While the term “Dai” doesn’t always lead to cryptocurrency information on Google, we decided to use these results rather than results for “Dai Coin,” which has significantly fewer searches.

Which are the most popular cryptocurrencies worldwide? We repeated our research to analyze monthly average searches across the globe, as well as in each country. We found that:

14. There are 12.7 million searches in an average month globally for “Bitcoin,” making it four times more searched than the second-place cryptocurrency

15. Dogecoin is the most searched-for altcoin on the market, with people around the world conducting an average of 2,800,000 searches per month.

16. Ether is the second most popular altcoin, with people searching Google for “Ethereum” an average of 2,100,000 times a month. 

17. Cardano and XRP are next, accumulating an average of 999,400 and 898,700 worldwide searches respectively every month. 

18. NEO is the least popular altcoin, with only 5,900 average monthly searches worldwide. 

19. Including Bitcoin, there are now three cryptocurrencies that each receive get over 1,000,000 searches per month 

Cryptocurrency and Social Media

When it comes to popularity, there’s no better gauge than social media. Cryptocurrency has blown up on every social media platform on the internet since Bitcoin began gaining popularity — so which currencies are being talked about the most? To find out, we analyzed the number of hashtags for each cryptocurrency on Instagram. It’s important to note that the names of certain cryptocurrencies may refer to unrelated topics, so bear in mind that some of these hashtags may not reference cryptocurrency.

20. Bitcoin, unsurprisingly,is the most talked-about crypto in the world, accumulating as many as 25 million hashtags on Instagram, 16.5 million more than the next most popular cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH). 

21. Ether is the second most talked-about cryptocurrency, with 8.5 million Instagram hashtags in total. 

22. USD Coin (USDC) and NEO are the third most talked-about cryptocurrencies in the world, both acquiring 4.9 million hashtags on Instagram. 

23. As of July 2022, there are more than eight different cryptocurrencies whose hashtags have amassed more than 1,000,000 usages each.

So who’s doing the talking? And how much influence does an influencer have on the social media crypto crowd? To find out, we made a list of the most popular cryptocurrency influencers on social media and the number of Instagram followers they have. 

24. In terms of pure follower count, the most popular Instagram crypto influencer is Vitalik Buterin.

25. In second place is Lark Davis, who has 1,000,000 followers.

26. The top 10 Instagram crypto influencers have over 100,000 followers each.

Cryptocurrency Market Statistics: Top Crypto Stats by Market Cap

The value of the top crypto exchanges is constantly changing, but just how big is the cryptocurrency market in 2022? How much has it grown, and which currencies are currently thriving? To find out, we analyzed cryptocurrency market data from both Coindesk and CoinMarketCap. 

27. The cryptocurrency market is worth an enormous $940.74 billionas of July 2022.

28. Despite this huge number, the market value of cryptocurrency has suffered a drop of nearly $2 trillion since its peak of $2.89 trillion in November 2021.

29. The crypto market hit the trillions for the first time in 2021, when it rose to $1.01 trillion on the 7th of January.

While there are thousands of cryptocurrencies experiencing losses and gains every day, certain currencies such as Bitcoin and Ether still make up a large chunk of the cryptocurrency market. What does the crypto market look like for these coins? We analyzed online data from Coindesk to see the size of the market for some of the biggest cryptocurrencies. 

30. The top ten cryptocurrencies make up $818.71 billion of the $940.74 billion total market value for cryptocurrency in July 2022. That’s 87%!

31. Ethereum has the highest market value behind Bitcoin, worth $177.65 billion in total. 

32. Despite being the most well-known altcoin based on our previous statistics and findings, Dogecoin only has the 11th highest market value, worth $9.03 billion in total. 

*These values are correct as of July 18, 2022.

Cryptocurrency Adoption Statistics: How Many Cryptocurrencies Are There — and How Much Do They Cost?

As of July 2022, there are as many as 20,255 cryptocurrencies on the market. These cryptocurrencies all operate differently and carry different values. While the big names such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are known for their fluctuating high prices, most cryptocurrencies aren’t as expensive as expected. To find out how much these currencies really cost, we used Coindesk to find out the highest prices for crypto in 2022. 

33. As of July 2022, there are over 20,200 different cryptocurrencies.

34. Bitcoin is the most expensive cryptocurrency available, costing as much as $21,926.25 in July 2022. 

35. It’s followed by Ether, at $1,460.47 per coin. 

36. In other words, Bitcoin is worth fifteen times more than its closest competitor.

37. Crypto prices decrease exponentially after Bitcoin and Ether, with SOL as the next most valuable at a mere $41.30.

38. The cheapest cryptocurrency is currently SHIB (Shiba Inu), valued at as little as $0.000011. 

*These figures are accurate as of July 18, 2022

How Often Is Bitcoin Used in Transactions?

How many crypto coins change hands every day? And how many people are adopting cryptocurrency into their transactions and investments? To find out, we analyzed daily transaction data from Blockchain.com to see how many Bitcoin transactions are carried out each day. We found that:

39. More Bitcoin transactions were carried out on December 14, 2017 than any other day in the history of Bitcoin, when 490,644 transactions occurred. 

40. The last time Bitcoin’s daily transactions exceeded 300,000 was May 5, 2022, when 315,759 transactions were conducted.

41. The number of transactions using Bitcoin rose in late 2021, reaching a high of 335,411 on November 9, the same day Bitcoin hit its largest peak in price.

Positive Outlook vs. Negative Outlook for Crypto Investors in 2022

If that still isn’t enough, we’ve pulled together some of the most recent statistics and news relating to the world of crypto in 2022.

The Good News for Investors:

42. As of July 2022, more than 83 million people have created unique Bitcoin wallets on Blockchain.com.

43. Bitcoin has risen by around 30% since June of this year, with some predicting it will continue to do so until it reaches the $25,000 mark.

44. Some experts predict that Bitcoin could rise to a staggering $100,000 in 2022, which is a great indicator for the future of the crypto market as a whole. 

45. The decentralized nature of crypto means that it will remain immune to manipulation or corruption, increasing the sense of security for investors.

The Bad News for Investors:

46. In July 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin placed a nationwide ban on using digital assets.

47. Tesla has now sold off 75% of its Bitcoin holdings and stopped accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment for its cars.

48. June 2022 saw a huge nosedive in the crypto market cap, plummeting from $3 trillion in November 2021 to a less impressive $800 billion.

49. One of the biggest downsides to investing in crypto will always be its degree of volatility. Because most currencies (other than stablecoins) aren’t connected to any tangible assets, there’s always a risk of their value changing, and even becoming worthless. 

Cryptocurrency Crime Statistics

Chainalysis released its 2022 cryptocurrency crime reporting with eye-watering statistics. You can download the complete report here. But these are the headline findings:

50. It’s estimated that illicit addresses received $14 billion in cryptocurrency in 2021.

51. This represents an 82% increase over the 2020 figure of $7.8 billion.

52. However, even this alarming figure for 2021 still represents just 0.15% of all transactions. In other words, criminal activity still represents a very small fraction of all crypto activity.

53. The same report revealed that North Korean hacking activity has been on the rise since 2019, with the number of North Korean-linked hacks increasing from four to 7. What’s more, the value extracted from these hacks also grew by approximately 40%

Crypto Mining Statistics 

Cryptocurrencies wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for crypto miners. From creating new coins to validating existing transactions, the process of mining cryptocurrencies is far from easy. It requires time, patience, resilience and, more often than not, a lot of money. But just how much is the crypto mining market worth? Who are the biggest stakeholders? And which form of crypto mining is best when it comes to making money? 

54. In 2020, the cryptocurrency mining hardware market was valued at $1.49 billion.

55. It’s predicted to rise considerably over the next few years, reaching an impressive $2.58 billion by 2028.

56. The country with the largest market share in crypto mining is the U.S., which accounts for 35.5% of the total global hash rate.

57. This is closely followed by Kazakhstan (18.1%) and Russia (11.2%). 

58. Mining a single Bitcoin can take anywhere between 10 minutes and one month.

59. In 2021, Bitcoin miners generated more than $15 billion, according to The Block Research’s most recent insights.

60. According to Blockchain.com, mining difficulty has doubled since China’s ban. 

61. The National Bureau of Economic Research’s most recent blockchain analysis found that the top 10% of miners control 90% of Bitcoin’s mining capacity. 

62. The same study also discovered that 0.1% of miners (around 50 individuals) control approximately 50% of Bitcoin mining capacity. 

63. New York is the U.S. state that’s home to the most Bitcoin miners, with a total hash rate share of almost 20% (19.9%), according to mining pool Foundry.

64. New York is then followed by Kentucky (18.7%) and Georgia (17.3%).

Crypto Environmental Statistics

As well as finance and time costs, cryptocurrency mining also brings with it a whole host of environmental implications, with its processes sparking much controversy among sustainability activists over the last few years. The good news is that the crypto mining industry is becoming more sustainable. But just how much damage does the process of crypto mining do to the environment? And which cryptocurrencies are the most environmentally friendly? 

65. Current estimates state that Bitcoin and Ether mining alone is responsible for 1-2% of global carbon emissions.

66. Figures from 2021 reveal that a single Ethereum transaction produces 102.38 kilograms of CO2. That’s the same as 17,063 hours of watching YouTube.

67. The same study found that in terms of electrical energy footprint, one Ethereum transaction is estimated to take the same amount of power as a typical U.S. household uses in eight days. 

68. The Crypto Carbon Ratings Institute found Polkadot to be the least harmful cryptocurrency when it comes to energy consumption and carbon footprint.

69. A 2018 study found that, on average, Bitcoin mining requires almost 3 times as much energy as gold mining. 

70. The good news is that now, almost 60% (58%) of the electricity used in Bitcoin mining comes from renewable energy sources.

Crypto Stats for Taxes

In the U.S., crypto isn’t technically viewed as a form of currency. Instead it’s viewed as a property or asset. What implications does this categorization have for U.S. taxes?

71. Any cryptocurrency short-term (held for less than 1 one year) capital gains are taxed at a rate of 37%.

72. On long-term (held for over 1 year) capital gains,, you’ll generally pay between 0 and 20% tax. 

73. Anytime you sell, trade or spend crypto, you'll be required to pay capital gains tax on any profits you make.

74. The U.S. offers some very useful tax breaks which can help you pay less tax on cryptocurrency. Tax-free allowances are available for anyone who: 

• Earns less than $40,400 total income per year, or

• Receives cryptocurrency with a value of less than $16,000 as a gift.

Crypto Stats for Regulation

To date, there hasn’t been any coordinated regulation of cryptocurrencies on an international basis, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies. However, many countries worldwide have enacted their own sets of rules and regulations surrounding the mining and use of cryptocurrencies.

75. As you can see from the above map created by Thomson Reuters in 2022, cryptocurrencies are legal in 34 countries, including the U.S.A, UK, Malta, Australia, Switzerland and Japan. 

76. On September 7, 2021, El Salvador officially recognized Bitcoin as legal tender, making it the only country to do so.

77. Many other countries — including Mexico, Argentina, India and Pakistan — permit individuals to own Bitcoin. However, there aren’t yet any forms of regulation in place surrounding it. These.

78. Some countries, such as China, Iran, Russia and Turkey, have restrictions in place on the use and trading of cryptocurrencies. 

79. Cryptocurrency is banned in the following nine countries:

• Algeria

• Bolivia

• Bangladesh

• Dominican Republic

• Ghana

• Nepal

• The Republic of Macedonia

• Qatar

• Vanuatu

Crypto stats on NFT

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are different from cryptocurrencies, as the value of cryptocurrency is purely economic. While NFTs aren’t a form of currency, they do serve as cryptographic assets, such as games, digital drawings, pieces of music and even tweets. So what is the relationship between NFTs and cryptocurrency?

80. The very first NFT (a digital image named “Quantum”) was minted in 2014. This was five years after the introduction of Bitcoin.

81. A total of $41 billion in cryptocurrency was spent on NFTs in 2021.

82. In 2021, the Ethereum-Based Nyan Cat meme art sold for more than $590,000 worth of cryptocurrency.

Methodology and Further Information

If you’d like further information about our study, please contact edwin.lau[at]bybit.com

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