Cryptocurrency transaction volume in North America declined 1.9% over the year to $3.02 trillion. Despite the decrease, the region maintained its leading position in the global digital asset market, supported by the development of stablecoins, tokenization of financial instruments, and artificial intelligence (AI) payment solutions.
According to a Chainalysis report, cryptocurrency transaction volume in the U.S. totaled $2.78 trillion, down 2.2% year-over-year. In Canada, the figure rose 2.3% to $247.7 billion. Analysts noted that institutional investors, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and the expanding practical applications of blockchain technology continue to support market resilience.
The study covers the period from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, except for certain metrics with separately specified reporting periods.
One of the fastest-growing segments was automated AI-powered payments. The number of transactions processed through the x402 protocol reached 138.5 million in Q3 2026. The technology allows AI agents to independently pay for digital services, including data processing and access to large language models (LLMs). U.S. wallets accounted for 88.1% of tracked payments of this type.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continued to strengthen its position in the tokenized real-world asset (RWA) market. By the end of Q2 2026, the market’s total value reached $36.07 billion, up 135% from the previous reporting period. Tokenized U.S. government bonds represented the largest category, valued at $15.42 billion, or 42.8% of the market.
In Canada, international remittances remained one of the main drivers of cryptocurrency adoption. During the reporting period, BTC and stablecoin transfers from Canada to India, China, and the Philippines recorded the following figures:
Total transfer volume reached $2.36 billion, up 141% year-over-year;
The number of transactions exceeded 3.56 million, with an average transaction value of $663;
These corridors accounted for 19.4% of Canada’s outbound cross-border stablecoin transfers, compared with 10.9% a year earlier.
Demand is supported by Canada’s large immigrant population, which accounts for about 23% of the country’s residents. Digital assets allow users to reduce the cost of sending money abroad compared with traditional banking channels.
Chainalysis noted that North America’s influence on the global cryptocurrency industry is increasingly shaped by the development of payment infrastructure. The U.S. serves as a key provider of technology and dollar-denominated digital assets, while demand for these solutions is growing outside the country.
According to a previous Deloitte study, nearly 1 in 4 chief financial officers (CFOs) at major North American corporations plans to use cryptocurrency within their companies by 2027. Meanwhile, 99% are considering the potential use of stablecoins over the long term.
