Digital Currency Market Projected to Reach $67B by 2031
The global digital currency market is projected to reach $67.34 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual rate of 11.86%, according to a report from Mordor Intelligence. The analysis identifies rising adoption of central bank digital currencies and the expansion of decentralized finance as primary growth drivers.
- As of early 2026, the total value locked (TVL) in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) protocols is estimated to be between $130 and $140 billion. This represents a significant recovery from post-FTX lows, with projections for continued growth. Ethereum continues to dominate the DeFi space, holding approximately 68% of the total TVL. - Globally, 134 countries, which account for 98% of the world's GDP, are currently exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Of these, 66 countries are in advanced stages, including pilot programs or development. Notably, all G20 nations are actively exploring CBDCs. - Institutional investment in digital assets has seen significant growth, with assets under management surpassing $235 billion by mid-2025. A recent survey indicates that 86% of institutional investors either already have or are planning to have exposure to digital assets in their portfolios. - China's e-CNY is the largest CBDC pilot currently in operation, with transactions having surpassed 7 trillion yuan. Other countries that have fully launched their own digital currencies include the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria. - The DeFi lending market accounted for roughly two-thirds of the $73.6 billion crypto-collateralized lending market by late 2025. Lending protocols now command approximately 21.3% of the total DeFi TVL. - Key players in the broader digital currency and blockchain space include cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, technology companies such as Block (formerly Square), and hardware manufacturers like Bitmain and Intel, which produce specialized chips for cryptocurrency mining.
