Nearly 50% of Global Investors Now Use Crypto as Inflation Hedge, Reveals Groundbreaking Survey

Digital gold rush accelerates as traditional safeguards crumble

Inflation fears trigger massive portfolio pivot

Nearly half of worldwide investors are dumping conventional hedges for cryptocurrency protection. They're bypassing gold, real estate, and even Treasury bonds—betting big on digital assets instead.

Survey data confirms the seismic shift: institutions and retail players alike are allocating serious capital to crypto positions. They're not just dipping toes—they're diving headfirst into Bitcoin, Ethereum, and select altcoins.

Why the rush? Traditional finance keeps offering 2% returns in a 8% inflation world—basically paying investors to lose money. Crypto's volatility suddenly looks like a feature, not a bug, when fiat currencies are melting like ice cream in July.

This isn't speculation anymore—it's capital preservation. Smart money recognizes that digital assets operate outside broken monetary systems. They're building lifeboats while central bankers rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic.

Will it work? History suggests unconventional moves beat conventional failures every time. After all, the dinosaurs didn't disappear because they failed—they disappeared because they didn't adapt fast enough.

Memecoin Craze Grows in Latin America, South Asia Pushes for Financial Independence

Latin America, meanwhile, has emerged as a cultural hub of crypto. Ownership of memecoins such as Dogecoin and shiba inu rose from 27% to 34%, while 63% of new users said passive income was their main motivation for entering the market.

In South Asia, younger mobile-first populations are driving activity. Spot trading ROSE to 52%, up from 45%. Moreover, more than half of the respondents cited financial independence as their main motivation.

Futures trading was also strong, with South Asia at 46% compared with a global average of 29%.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Still Core Holdings as Stablecoins Balance Risk

Public chain tokens such as Bitcoin and ethereum remain the backbone of global portfolios, held by more than 65% of investors. Confidence was highest in Latin America and Southeast Asia, where long-term belief in blockchain infrastructure remains firm.

Stablecoin holdings remained steady at about 50% worldwide. This shows that investors are balancing caution with a search for yield.

The survey showed sharp differences across regions. In South Asia and Southeast Asia, investors leaned heavily into futures trading. Meanwhile, Latin America shifted toward safer, lower-risk approaches.

Wealth distribution is also changing. High-value wallets above $20,000 fell in East Asia from 39% to 33%, reflecting regulatory pressure and profit-taking. At the same time, mid-tier wallets grew, indicating a broader spread of assets across retail participants.

Rising Inflation Fears Push More Investors Toward Crypto for Wealth Protection

Analysts say more investors now see crypto as a hedge against inflation. This reflects a wider distrust of fiat currencies. In places where exchange rates are weakening or inflation is persistent, digital assets are increasingly viewed as a store of value, even with their volatility.

Looking ahead, MEXC expects “wealth protection” to become the main reason for new users by the third quarter if global macro pressures continue. At the same time, futures and margin trading are likely to grow as the bull cycle matures. Traders are seeking more structured ways to capture yield.

Retail enthusiasm is also shifting. Memecoins and new narratives such as AI-linked tokens are expected to fuel short-term inflows. However, public chain tokens are set to remain the backbone of investor portfolios.

“Crypto adoption is evolving in different ways and paces across the world, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach,” said Tracy Jin, chief operating officer at MEXC. She noted that regional patterns range from inflation hedges in East Asia to community-driven growth in Latin America.

The survey results come as inflation remains stubborn in many parts of the world. For investors, crypto is no longer seen only as a speculative tool. It is also becoming an alternative instrument to protect wealth from the erosion of purchasing power.