New data from the Polimi Observatory sheds light on how crypto adoption italy is evolving compared with other major European markets.
Italy’s crypto holders and market penetration
In Italy there are 2.8 million holders of crypto-assets, equal to 7% of the population, according to the Blockchain & Web3 Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano. However, this penetration remains lower than in other European countries such as France at 9%, Germany at 11% and Spain at 14%.
Moreover, 11% of Italian consumers say they are interested in buying crypto-assets in the future. That said, more than half of these potential investors currently do not use other financial instruments, suggesting that digital assets may become their first entry point into the world of investments.
Investor profiles and access to financial markets
The fact that many interested Italians have no previous exposure to traditional products such as stocks, bonds or funds is significant. However, it also underlines how crypto-assets can act as a gateway to broader financial education and participation, especially for younger or underserved segments of the population.
Moreover, this pattern could reshape how banks, fintech platforms and asset managers design their offerings. As a result, they may increasingly integrate digital assets alongside more classic instruments to attract new clients.
Blockchain projects worldwide and sector trends
After years of experimentation, 2025 consolidated the growth prospects for blockchain and Web3 technologies. The report notes that the financial sector is now entering a maturity phase, supported by international regulatory developments and clearer supervisory frameworks.
According to the research, 378 new blockchain projects were recorded globally in 2025, showing a 27% increase compared with 2024. However, growth is not evenly distributed across industries. Notably, 73% of these initiatives concern the financial sector, confirming it as the main engine of development.
Stablecoins and tokenization as key growth drivers
Moreover, the expansion of stablecoins has been crucial. At the end of 2025, their total market capitalization reached $310 billion, marking a 50% increase year on year. That said, this segment remains highly sensitive to regulatory changes and the evolution of payment use cases.
In parallel, numerous projects have focused on the tokenization of assets, particularly financial instruments. Many of these initiatives are still largely experimental, but they aim to bring traditional securities and new types of value on-chain to improve efficiency, transparency and settlement times.
Implications for the Web3 financial sector and Italy
The authors of the study emphasize that the Web3 financial ecosystem is moving from pilot phases to more structured deployments. However, risks linked to technology, regulation and market adoption remain, especially in jurisdictions where frameworks are still evolving.
For Italy, the combination of 2.8 million crypto-asset holders and a strong pipeline of global blockchain initiatives could open new opportunities. In this context, the dynamics of crypto adoption italy will depend on how institutions, regulators and service providers respond to growing retail interest and to innovations like stablecoins and asset tokenization.
In summary, the Politecnico di Milano data, updated to 22 January 2026, show that Italy still lags some European peers in penetration rates but has a sizeable base of users and potential investors. Moreover, with 378 blockchain projects worldwide in 2025 and a stablecoin market capitalization of $310 billion, the broader Web3 and financial landscape appears set for further expansion.