Emerging-market users are treating crypto exchanges like banking apps, Binance says
One point three billion adults lack financial services, 4.7 billion lack credit, and 1.4 billion savers in low-income nations earn no deposit interest, Binance said.
What to know:
- Emerging markets are driving crypto adoption, accounting for 77% of Binance users in 2026, Binance said in a report. Users treat exchanges as “shadow banks” for savings, payments, and investments.
- Crypto platforms fill a financial access gap. One point three billion adults lack financial services, 4.7 billion lack credit, and 1.4 billion savers in low-income nations earn no deposit interest, Binance said.
- Stablecoins are central, enabling low-cost ($0.0001) and instant remittances/savings, but institutions like Moody’s warn of financial-resilience and monetary-sovereignty risks.
About 36% of emerging-market Binance users with balances of at least $10 hold at least half of their portfolio in stablecoins, according to the report, which points to the pattern as “consistent with savings-oriented usage.” Globally, 28% of users meet that threshold, up from 4% in 2020.
The data points to growing use of crypto platforms as substitute financial infrastructure in markets where banking access remains limited.
The World Bank says 1.3 billion adults still lack access to financial services, while 900 million unbanked adults own a mobile phone and 530 million own a smartphone.
Binance said 4.7 billion adults lack access to credit or loans, 3.6 billion adults in low- and middle-income countries do not use digital payments or cards, and 1.4 billion savers in those countries earn no interest on deposits.
