The United States became a net importer of Bitcoin in 2026 for the first time since 2022, while dollar-pegged stablecoins continued expanding their use outside the country, according to Chainalysis research reported by Bitcoin Magazine. The contrasting flows point to a widening split between how Americans and overseas users are using crypto assets.
Institutions Accumulate Bitcoin
Chainalysis said U.S. institutions have been buying Bitcoin this year, even as retail investors have generally been selling. The report, titled “North America: Inside the Growth of Agentic Commerce,” describes the shift as evidence that American demand is increasingly centered on Bitcoin as a scarce asset.
The research also found that the United States’ share of global Bitcoin activity has increased in every reporting period since spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds launched in 2024. That gain came despite a 2.2% contraction in the overall U.S. crypto economy, which stood at $2.78 trillion during the period covered. The decline occurred during a severe bear market, although the market retained most of the near-doubling recorded in 2025.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, ending a decade in which it had rejected such products. The funds, managed by firms including BlackRock, Fidelity and, more recently, Morgan Stanley, give institutions and other investors exposure to Bitcoin through fund shares. The ETF structure also handles the purchase and sale of the underlying cryptocurrency.
Stablecoins Take Dollars Abroad
Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to maintain a stable value against an asset such as the U.S. dollar. Chainalysis said dollar-backed stablecoins are seeing particularly strong adoption outside the United States because international users may want digital access to dollars without holding an account at an American bank.
The report characterized stablecoins as a way for the U.S. dollar to circulate in peer-to-peer economies and in businesses operating across borders. During the 2026 period, their use expanded into new applications, especially overseas, generating billions of dollars in economic activity for U.S. companies and the U.S. government, according to the research.
That pattern contrasts with domestic behavior. Americans already have access to dollar-based bank accounts, the report said, reducing the need for dollar stablecoins as a substitute for traditional banking. Instead, U.S. users are showing stronger reliance on Bitcoin as a store of value with a limited supply.
Policy Framework and Market Picture
The report’s findings come as the U.S. crypto industry operates under a more supportive policy framework. Since Donald Trump became president, he has signed several crypto-related laws and executive orders. The GENIUS Act, signed in 2025, permits banks and other entities to issue stablecoins if the tokens are backed by assets such as U.S. Treasuries and issuers provide monthly reserve disclosures.
Moneyiar market data at 21:44 on October 15, 2026, showed Bitcoin at $82,204.64, up 0.57% over 24 hours and 0.71% over seven days. Aethir was at $0.005955, down 0.47% in 24 hours and 6.20% over seven days. AI Rig Complex traded at $0.038706, up 8.09% over 24 hours but down 36.85% over seven days, while RedStone stood at $0.157745, up 0.52% and 9.39% over those periods.
