Cryptocurrency adoption is progressing at very different speeds across regions, with some markets moving ahead far more quickly than others, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). In its Global Crypto Regulation Report 2026, the firm noted that “While crypto networks are borderless, adoption is not,” adding that use cases such as payments, remittances, savings, capital markets and tokenization are developing unevenly worldwide.

PwC said adoption remains closely tied to local economic conditions, levels of financial inclusion and the strength of existing financial infrastructure. As a result, the global crypto landscape has become fragmented, with digital assets addressing “very different problems” depending on the market. The findings come as blockchain and crypto usage has accelerated in the United States, where a more crypto-friendly Trump administration has given institutions greater confidence to roll out products linked to cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

Institutional engagement reaches a tipping point

PwC also said institutional involvement in crypto has “crossed the point of reversibility.” According to the firm, “Banks, asset managers, payment providers, and large corporates are embedding digital assets into core infrastructure, balance sheets, and operating models,” adding that “This is no longer optional or peripheral.”

At the same time, PwC cautioned that political shifts could still influence sentiment, with some analysts noting that a less supportive future administration could temper institutional enthusiasm. On Wednesday, CryptoQuant founder Ki Young Ju highlighted that institutional funds have accumulated 577,000 Bitcoin over the past year, equivalent to roughly $53 billion, saying, “Institutional demand for Bitcoin remains strong.”

PwC added that as institutions deepen their exposure, they are reshaping market standards around scale, governance, resilience and accountability, gradually replacing crypto-native norms with more traditional institutional practices.

Price impact may be more limited than expected

Despite growing institutional participation, some market observers are skeptical that it will translate into dramatic price gains. Macro researcher and FFTT founder Luke Gromen said institutional investors are unlikely to be the main force pushing Bitcoin to new highs this year without a major catalyst.

“If you’re counting on institutional investors to run it from you know 90 to you know 150, if that’s your plan, that’s probably not going to happen without some major catalyst,” Gromen said on Wednesday.

Sources:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-adoption-regions-pricewaterhousecoopers-pwc

https://www.pwc.de/de/unterlagen/pwc-global-crypto-regulation-report-2026.pdf

https://x.com/ki_young_ju/status/2013369998618525952