Who Actually Uses Cryptocurrency? Breaking Down Global Access Barriers

Imagine any revolutionary invention – from the wheel to the internet. Its success has always depended on people. Who tries it, how they use it, and – crucially – what feedback they give. Users and their experiences determine where development goes next.

Why “Mass Adoption” Isn’t Just About Numbers

The more diverse the people using a product, the richer and more representative the feedback. It’s like assembling a puzzle: if you only have pieces of one color, you’ll never see the full picture. For cryptocurrency to become truly useful for everyone, it must engage diverse groups – with different needs, backgrounds, and capabilities. Right now, this is the key challenge for the entire industry.

But how to attract these users? It boils down to two inseparable factors: education and accessibility. Accessibility matters most because it includes access to knowledge. Without entry points, learning is useless.

This article examines: who remains excluded from cryptocurrency and financial education today, and what we can do about it right now.

Why Crypto Today Resembles 1950s Seatbelts

Let’s face it: the world is often built for the “majority.” This makes economic sense – target the largest group first, gather feedback, then iterate. The problem? “Iterating for minorities” often gets postponed indefinitely. Why redesign when 80% are served? Easier to say: “Adapt – that’s the price of living in society.”

Consider automotive seatbelts. Initially designed for male anatomy. Result? To this day, there are no mass-produced, scientifically validated solutions for women! Crash-test dummies? Mostly “average-sized males.” The outcome? Women have 17-20% lower survival odds in major accidents (NHTSA 2024 data).

Here’s the crypto parallel:
Early adoption was dominated by a narrow group – programmers and financiers (mostly men). The system was built by and for them. Those outside this profile (the majority!) were sidelined. Now the industry faces fundamental redesign to achieve true mass adoption.

Where Do Crypto’s Biggest Users Live? You’d Be Surprised!

While developed nations tread cautiously on regulation, emerging economies are embracing crypto head-on. Why? For them, it’s often the only gateway to global finance, bypassing outdated or inaccessible banking infrastructure.

Latest data (Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index, Q1 2025):

Rank	Country	Region	Income Group (World Bank)
1	Vietnam	Southeast Asia	Lower Middle Income (LMI)
2	Philippines	Southeast Asia	Lower Middle Income (LMI)
3	Ukraine	Eastern Europe	Lower Middle Income (LMI)
4	India	South Asia	Lower Middle Income (LMI)
5	Pakistan	South Asia	Lower Middle Income (LMI)
6	Brazil	Latin America	Upper Middle Income (UMI)
7	Thailand	Southeast Asia	Upper Middle Income (UMI)
8	Russia	Eastern Europe	Upper Middle Income (UMI)
9	Nigeria	West Africa	Lower Middle Income (LMI)
10	China	East Asia	Upper Middle Income (UMI)

Source: Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index, Q1 2025

What this means:

• 9 of the top 10 countries are emerging economies (Lower Middle Income – LMI).
• ~40% of Earth’s population lives in LMI nations – a massive and hyper-engaged user pool.
• Even amid broader market slowdowns, LMI/UMI adoption continues steady growth.

Here, crypto isn’t a speculative asset – it’s a tool for survival and growth: cheap remittances, inflation hedging, access to credit/savings.

Who’s Still Excluded from Crypto in 2025 and Why?

Barriers extend beyond “lack of knowledge.” Deep structural issues involve physical ability, infrastructure access, and social biases. Key excluded groups:

1. Women: Why Do They Represent Under 30% in Crypto?

Statistics remain bleak (Coin.dance, Engagement Data, March 2025):

• Bitcoin community participation: ~72% Male vs. ~28% Female.
• Dominant interest areas: Tech, Finance, Programming – male-dominated topics.

Why?

• “Crypto is too risky!” True? Yes. But risk is relative. Women are on average more financially risk-averse (Fidelity 2024 research). Aggressive “casino” or “hype” marketing repels them. We need to explain risk gradients: Bitcoin ≠ yesterday’s meme coin.
• Childhood stereotypes: “Tech isn’t for girls.” Despite growing gender-neutral toys and STEM programs, mindset inertia persists.
• The “Tech Bro” cult: Media glorifies male founders (often with questionable reputations – hi, SBF!). Female crypto founders (e.g., Kathleen Breitman of Tezos, Jihoz of Axie Infinity) get far less attention.
• Information delivery: Dry, jargon-heavy guides deter engagement. Explanations must link to practical goals and emotions: “How can crypto savings help you achieve dreams – travel, education, a business?”

How to Engage More Women? Action Steps:

• Fear-free education: Create courses focused on risk management, long-term investing, and utility (remittances, savings) – not just trading. Example: Binance Academy “Crypto for Beginners: Women’s Edition”.
• Visible role models: Promote success stories of women in Web3 – developers, founders, investors, community managers.
• Women in product development: Involve women at all stages – ideation to testing. Their perspective is critical for intuitive interfaces.
• Women-focused communities: Support networks like SheFi or Crypto Chix (yes, still relevant!) for safe learning spaces.

Frankly? It’s infuriating we still discuss this in 2025. But ignoring it means losing half the talent and users.

2. People with Visual Impairments: Why Crypto Remains Terra Incognita

Scale of the problem (WHO World Vision Report, 2025):

• 1.3+ billion people live with vision impairment.
• Projected to reach 1.8 billion by 2050.
• Over 90% live in low/middle-income countries.

Barriers they face: Almost everything:

• Wallet/DEX interfaces: Heavy reliance on visuals – QR codes, charts, complex menus.
• Transaction verification: How to verify a recipient’s wallet address without trusting third parties? Violates core “Don’t Trust, Verify” principles.
• Seed phrases: Screen readers mispronouncing “hour” vs. “our” or “bare” vs. “bear” can cause catastrophic errors.

Current Solutions (Limited Progress):

• Wallets: Some (e.g., Argent, Trust Wallet) improved VoiceOver (iOS)/TalkBack (Android) compatibility – but this is baseline.
• Initiatives: Projects like Braiille Books for Blockchain (launched 2023) create Braille blockchain materials.

Urgent Fixes Needed (Developer Checklist):

1. Deep screen-reader integration: Meaningful interface descriptions, not just text-to-speech.
2. Voice commands: Wallet control/transaction confirmation via secure voice.
3. Audio verification: Unique sounds for address confirmation, amounts, network status.
4. Seed phrase homophone protection: Algorithms to distinguish/clearly pronounce similar-sounding words.
5. Blind user involvement: Mandatory inclusion in product testing cycles.

Gaming idea: Create “blind mode” achievements in GameFi to raise awareness among sighted players.

3. Non-Literate Users: A Shrinking But Critical Group

Data (UNESCO, 2024):

• ~700 million adults globally remain non-literate.
• Two-thirds are women.
• Primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Crypto challenge: Digital interfaces (wallets, exchanges) are near-impossible without reading/writing skills.

Solutions:

• Focus on oral/visual traditions: Education via local radio, audio podcasts, comics, pictograms.
• Voice interfaces: Leverage tools like ChatGPT Voice for crypto operations (“Send 0.01 BTC to +7XXX…”).
• Local “ambassadors”: Train literate community members to assist with basic ops (requires trust, but a temporary fix).

Good news: Global literacy rises, especially among youth. This requires time/resources but is solvable.

4. Older Adults: Why They Struggle Uniquely

Challenges:

• Digital barrier: Many haven’t mastered smartphones. Crypto (wallets, keys, blockchains) feels overwhelming.
• Trust model: Seniors rely on custodial banks. “Not your keys, not your coins” seems hostile.
• Fraud fear: Prime targets for phishing/scams. Exchange hack news deters them.
• Cognitive changes: Learning new systems gets harder with age.

How to Help?

• Ultra-simple interfaces: Wallets like Zengo (no seed phrases!) or solutions from PayPal Crypto, Robinhood Crypto mimic familiar banking apps.
• Learning via trusted parties: Banks, financial advisors, or family members can bridge the gap.
• Focus on concrete benefits: Not “future tech,” but “Inflation-proof savings” or “Cheap, fast remittances to grandchildren.”
• Hybrid solutions: Custodial services with self-custody elements and clear security education. Example: Fidelity Crypto for retirement accounts.

5. Lack of Electricity/Internet: The Absolute Barrier

2025 Reality:

• Climate disasters (heatwaves, hurricanes) cause frequent/longer blackouts.
• Regional conflicts destroy infrastructure.
• Authoritarian regimes (e.g., North Korea, parts of Africa) deliberately restrict internet access.
• Starlink isn’t a cure-all: Expensive terminals, limited availability, potential blocking.

Consequence: No power/internet = no access to wallets, exchanges, or blockchains. Paper wallets are storage, not active tools.

Partial Solutions (Hard Problems):

• Offline transactions: Tech like NFC or Bluetooth Mesh for signing transactions offline (e.g., Blockstream Satellite, Samourai Wallet’s “SOS Mode” – niche but evolving).
• Local mesh networks: Smartphone-based peer-to-peer networks to relay transaction data during connectivity windows.
• Resilient energy: Support solar microgrid projects in remote areas – the foundational fix.

This remains the toughest barrier. Solutions require tech/infrastructure/geopolitical alignment.

Even For “Mainstream” Users: Top 3 2025 Risks That Scare Newcomers

Even tech-savvy users face fears:

1. “Your seed phrase is your vault – and prison”: Lose it = lose everything. Paralysis from storage/writing anxiety.
   Solution? Account Abstraction (AA): Protocols like zkSync, Starknet, Polygon Supernets enable:
   – Recovery via social/logins/trusted contacts.
   – Simpler transactions (sponsored gas, batched ops).
   – Spending/withdrawal limits for safety.
   Next-gen wallets: Argent, Safe (ex-Gnosis Safe) already use AA.
2. Scammers Are Still Here: Phishing, fake airdrops, rug pulls, bridge hacks (especially cross-chain bridges).
   Protection:
   – Hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor) + vigilance.
   – Verify ALL links/official project accounts.
   – Use audited bridges (Portal Bridge, Synapse).
   – “Don’t leave assets on bridges!” – Swap and withdraw.
3. Transfer Errors: Wrong network (sending ERC-20 to BEP-20) or wrong token = lost funds. Millions vanish yearly!
   Protection:
   – Triple-check recipient address/network.
   – Send a test transaction first.
   – Use aggregators (1inch, Jupiter) or error-proof wallets (BlockWallet).

Conclusion: Why Crypto Inclusion Isn’t Charity – It’s Survival

Crypto was born to promote freedom and equality. Without deliberate barrier removal, it risks replicating traditional systems, excluding those who need it most.

What overcoming barriers achieves:

1. True mass adoption: Not just on paper.
2. Resilient ecosystems: Diverse users → diverse ideas → better products.
3. Financial literacy: Crypto is a powerful (if risky) financial teacher. Related education boosts overall literacy.
4. Economic growth: Including marginalized groups (women, LMI residents) directly stimulates economies.

What YOU Can Do Now:

• Share knowledge: Explain crypto to grandparents, friends, or neighbors in plain terms.
• Demand accessibility: Ask wallets/exchanges about screen reader support and simpler interfaces.
• Support inclusive projects: Join communities focused on women, disabled users, or emerging markets.
• Be patient: Newcomers are nervous. Never mock “dumb” questions.

Inclusion isn’t about “box-ticking.” It’s about crypto finally delivering its promise: becoming money and technology for EVERYONE, no exceptions.

Editor’s Note: Views expressed are the author’s alone and do not reflect Coin Bureau’s official position.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is crypto truly diverse and inclusive today?

Honestly? No. Progress exists (more education, simpler wallets), but deep barriers – gender gaps, disability exclusion, digital divides – persist. The path to true inclusion is long.

2. Why does diversity/inclusion matter for crypto?

• Resilience: Diverse communities find better solutions and identify risks faster.
• Innovation: Varied perspectives spark novel ideas (e.g., blind-accessible wallets, voice DeFi).
• Mass adoption: Crypto goes mainstream only when effortlessly usable by all, not just techies.
• Ethics: Web3’s philosophy demands openness. Without inclusion, it’s empty branding.

3. Why should I (investor/enthusiast) care?

• Reputation risk: Projects perceived as “boys’ clubs” lose trust and appeal.
• Market potential: Tapping new audiences (e.g., 1.8B visually impaired or millions of unbanked women) represents massive untapped markets.
• Long-term growth: Inclusive ecosystems are more sustainable investment targets.

4. How can I help improve accessibility?

• Share beginner resources: Articles/videos in native languages (Coin Bureau YouTube, Binance Academy).
• Participate in testing: Offer feedback on accessibility-focused projects.
• Discuss barriers: Raise issues (accessibility, gender gaps) in communities/meetups.
• Support inclusive DAOs: Contribute to groups like BanklessDAO Impact.

5. How do regulations (MiCA, FIT) impact accessibility?

Positively, regulation can build trust (especially among older/conservative users) via investor protection. Negatively, complex KYC/AML or licensing may:

• Block access for certain regions.
• Complicate onboarding for non-tech users.
• Increase compliance costs, pricing out the poor.

The key is regulators/industry balancing security and accessibility.