Crypto Exchanges Enter Early-Majority Growth Phase

New data and tokenization trends suggest crypto is moving beyond niche adoption—setting the stage for broad, mainstream participation.

by Mia Thompson September 8, 2025
Edited and fact-checked: September 8, 2025 at 12:30
Crypto exchanges entering early-majority growth phase

TL;DR: A new industry report shows crypto exchanges are moving beyond niche adoption, with trading activity, user growth, and tokenized assets pointing toward a structural market shift.

Structural Shift in Crypto Adoption

Fresh data suggests digital assets are entering a new adoption phase as regulators under the Trump administration’s Project Crypto signal more openness to the industry. Despite global ownership sitting at only 6.9% in Q2 2025—versus 15–30% of people who trade stocks—this gap implies room for 2–4× expansion. Analysts argue the sector is transitioning from early adopters to early-majority users, laying the groundwork for mainstream integration.

Explosive Growth in Exchange Wallets

Exchange-linked wallets are reshaping decentralized finance. Binance Wallet daily trading volume surged from $5 million in December 2024 to $1.4 billion by August 2025, boosting decentralized exchange penetration from 0.7% to 40%+ in just eight months. The BNB Chain also saw monthly active users double to 2 million, while daily transactions rose tenfold to 10 million—clear signs that users want seamless on-chain access via trusted platforms.

Tokenized Assets Gain Momentum

The rise of tokenized real-world assets is fueling new utility. Ondo Finance has surpassed $180 million in tokenized stock assets, and leading exchanges like Bitget now offer stock perpetuals with up to 25× leverage and 24/7 trading. Compared with traditional finance—where markets shut daily and leverage is more restricted—tokenized assets show why investors are shifting attention to digital rails.

Outlook for the Next Phase

With regulators softening their approach and user metrics accelerating, crypto exchanges appear poised to become dominant financial platforms. Adoption is likely to keep climbing as tokenization and exchange wallet growth create more pathways for retail and institutions alike. If current trends persist, the market could be entering its strongest mainstream expansion yet.