Stablecoins surpass Bitcoin in purchases across Latin America

Latin American users have increased their reliance on stablecoins, with dollar-pegged tokens now accounting for a larger share of crypto purchases than Bitcoin.

According to Bitso’s 2025 crypto adoption report, 40% of purchases on its platform involved U.S. dollar-linked stablecoins such as Tether’s USDt and Circle’s USDC, while Bitcoin accounted for 18%, the first time stablecoins have overtaken the asset in the region. The exchange based its findings on activity from nearly 10 million retail users across Latin America.

Bitso said the pattern points to rising demand for what it described as “digital dollarization,” as users in inflation-prone economies seek alternatives to weakening local currencies.

Countries dealing with persistent price instability and limited access to banking services have seen users turn to stablecoins to store value, make payments, and send remittances tied to the U.S. dollar.

While the U.S. dollar itself faces inflation, Bitso noted it remains comparatively more stable than many regional currencies and continues to serve as a dominant unit of exchange, making dollar-pegged assets attractive for daily financial use.

Growth in global supply has supported that trend, with the stablecoin market reaching roughly $320 billion, expanding across both emerging and developed markets. Regional use cases continue to centre on payments and cross-border transfers, where access to dollar liquidity often remains restricted through traditional channels.

Developments in local markets have followed. As previously reported by crypto.news, Mercado Libre introduced a cross-border remittance product in early April using its Meli dollar stablecoin across Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. The rollout came after the company discontinued its earlier Mercado Coin issuance this year.

Bitso’s report said Bitcoin still holds a central position in portfolios despite reduced purchase share, with the asset present in 52% of holdings in 2025, compared with 53% a year earlier. The exchange described Bitcoin as the region’s primary long-term digital store of value, even as short-term buying activity has tilted toward stablecoins.

Price movements over the past year have reinforced its mixed profile, with Bitcoin rising above $126,000 in October before retreating to levels in the low $60,000 range.

Research from MarketVector highlighted characteristics such as fixed supply, decentralised structure, and resistance to changes in issuance, placing Bitcoin alongside gold in long-term value-preservation frameworks.