Coinbase CEO, Brian Armstrong, commented on a social media post noting the high speed of crypto adoption and predicted that billions will be using Bitcoin by 2030.
BlackRock Study
According to a BlackRock study released in January 2025, Bitcoin has experienced rapid adoption, attracting the attention of both individual and institutional investors. The study highlights Bitcoin's significance amid declining trust in traditional financial institutions and emphasizes a global trend towards making digital money easier for mass adoption. The study mentions that mobile phones reached 300 million users in 21 years, the Internet in 15 years, starting count from 1983. Some experts question the methodology used for counting Bitcoin users.
Other Studies
According to the Chainalysis article, in 2018, out of 460 million Bitcoin addresses, only 172 million had economic relevance. The data shows 25 million belonged to private holders, the rest to exchanges, dark web marketplaces, and other platforms. In contrast, BiTBO findings show around 106 million people own Bitcoin as of 2025. Bitcoin is used daily by just 500k individuals, while Visa processes over 700 million transactions each day. However, Bitcoin network outperforms traditional operators in terms of daily transaction value.
The Realism of Armstrong's Prediction
Comparing Bitcoin to cell phones adoption is challenging, as phones are becoming cheaper while Bitcoin is getting more expensive. Mass Bitcoin adoption requires support from regulators and businesses. In some countries, it continues to face political and economic hurdles. Experts note that more effort is needed to make Bitcoin as simple and safe to use as mobile phones.
While Bitcoin is rapidly evolving and attracting new users, its widespread adoption demands significant effort and time. Predictions of billions of users by 2030 highlight the potential trend of growth, yet remain speculative.
