MENA Crypto Trading Surges to $350 Billion Annually; Saudi Growth Reaches 154%
Summary
- Annual on-chain cryptocurrency transaction volume in the MENA region rose from about $100 billion in 2022 to about $350 billion in 2025-2026, the report said.
- Turkey, with about $200 billion in annual transaction volume, and the UAE, with about $150 billion in 2025, formed the region's leading cryptocurrency markets, it said.
- Saudi Arabia's cryptocurrency transaction volume rose 154% from a year earlier, while Qatar posted 120% growth, marking the fastest expansion in the MENA region, the report said.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
The cryptocurrency market in the Middle East and North Africa is growing rapidly, with annual on-chain transaction volume rising to about $350 billion.
Wu Blockchain reported on September 6 that the Bitcoin Policy Institute said annual on-chain cryptocurrency transactions in the MENA region increased from about $100 billion in 2022 to about $350 billion in 2025-2026. It identified the region as one of the fastest-growing cryptocurrency markets in the world.
By country, Turkey remained the region's largest market, with annual transaction volume of about $200 billion. Cryptocurrency transaction volume in the United Arab Emirates reached about $150 billion in 2025.
Saudi Arabia stood out in growth. The country's cryptocurrency transaction volume surged 154% from a year earlier, the highest growth rate in the MENA region. Qatar followed with a 120% increase over the same period.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute said the drivers of cryptocurrency demand differ across the region. In some countries facing conflict or currency depreciation, Bitcoin and dollar-based stablecoins are used as stores of value. In Gulf states, improved regulatory frameworks and broader institutional participation are helping position the digital-asset industry as a major hub.
