The Web3 industry is poised to exceed 5 billion cryptocurrency users within the next decade, driven by advancements in blockchain usability and speculation during the next bull market cycle, according to industry insiders.
At the Waib Summit 2025 in Monaco, Thomas Prévot, head of operations in France at Crypto.com, predicted that the industry could reach 5 billion users within the next 10 years.
This surge in adoption would position cryptocurrencies as widely accepted and used for payments, as ubiquitous as credit cards today. This significant growth would likely only occur after the market recovers from the current “down cycle”, with the next big wave of mainstream adoption coming at the beginning of the next bull market cycle.
Crypto’s path to mainstream adoption
As of late 2025, an estimated 659 million people globally held cryptocurrency, according to Crypto.com’s research. However, the industry is set to rapidly expand, surpassing 5 billion users over the next decade.
Achieving the first billion users would represent a monumental milestone in the mainstream acceptance of digital assets as a viable alternative payment method. This would bring cryptocurrencies closer to the vision of Satoshi Nakamoto, who created Bitcoin (BTC) as a censorship-resistant, peer-to-peer transaction tool.
A popular Bitcoin analyst, mainstream cryptocurrency adoption could drive Bitcoin’s ultimate price to $700,000 per token, based on a projected 3% portfolio allocation.
Pathways to 1 billion crypto users: speculation vs. blockchain use
There are two primary pathways that could propel the industry to 1 billion crypto users.
1. Retail speculation driving growth
Retail-driven price speculation could be the main driver for the first billion users, 2021 market cycle, when retail speculation caused the market to quadruple in value in a few months, sparking significant interest in cryptocurrencies.
Price speculation is a “huge” factor for retail investors, and this dynamic could mirror past cycles to fuel the next wave of growth.
2. Blockchain use cases and consumer behavior change
Alternatively, the industry could reach the 1 billion user mark through actual blockchain use cases, particularly in payments. This would require a longer timeframe, as it involves consumer behavior changes and the development of more user-friendly applications for blockchain-based transactions.
The importance of blockchain application usability is crucial to achieving mainstream adoption. Making crypto applications more accessible and beginner-friendly is key to onboarding new users, particularly those who are less familiar with blockchain technology.
The future of cryptocurrency adoption
As the crypto industry continues to evolve, industry insiders agree that the path to mainstream adoption hinges on improving both usability and speculation in the coming market cycles. With the growth of blockchain use cases, more efficient applications, and the increasing financial interest from retail investors, the Web3 space is on track for massive expansion.