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Catherine Chen is Head of VIP & Institutional at Binance.
Cryptocurrency has given rise to a new class of high-net-worth individuals who are financially independent and philosophically aligned with the ideals of self-sovereignty. They seek optionality: mobility, asset diversification, and engagement with the global economy on their own terms. As of 30 June 2025, over 241,700 individuals worldwide hold at least USD 1 million in crypto assets, up from 172,000 last year. Overall, global crypto ownership has surpassed 590 million people, and a survey of financial advisors indicates their client interest in crypto has risen strongly and advisors intend to increase allocation.
This new, mobility-driven class of investors is increasingly turning to citizenship by investment programs as a strategic route to geographic and financial flexibility. Crypto’s borderless structure makes it a practical financial instrument for such strategies, provided it aligns with regulatory and institutional standards. In 2025, this alignment is emerging alongside digital assets’ maturation and widespread adoption.
Cryptocurrency has moved from experimental technology to a recognized asset class, and regulatory frameworks have developed in parallel. A 2024 analysis of 75 global jurisdictions found that 76% now permit cryptocurrency use within defined regulatory boundaries, while only 23% maintain substantial restrictions. The Financial Stability Board’s 2024 report shows this momentum continuing: 93% of member jurisdictions have committed to implementing new or revised crypto regulations by 2025, with roughly 60% planning to adopt the board's stablecoin and crypto-asset recommendations.
This shift occurs alongside growing institutional recognition of crypto’s increasingly conspicuous role in long-term financial infrastructure. For high-net-worth individuals, it enables the use of digital wealth through legal, structured mechanisms, including immigration and investment migration programs.
Binance’s regulatory transformation illustrates the crypto industry’s broader evolution. Today, more and more countries are developing regulatory frameworks and Binance now holds regulatory approvals in more than 20 jurisdictions and counting. The firm achieved this by investing heavily in compliance teams, working through each country’s licensing requirements, while also prioritizing user needs, and today Binance processes over USD 200 billion in daily trading volume.
In 2025, the firm increased its compliance spending by 35% year-over-year, with over 1,270 compliance professionals now comprising more than 20% of the company’s workforce.
In the context of citizenship by investment facilitation, these advantages translate into three tangible benefits across trusted custody and liquidity, regulatory alignment, and global reach. First, Binance offers secure, conversion-ready infrastructure to help users move between crypto and fiat when required for investment programs. Second, with robust KYC/AML practices, the firm can authenticate the source of wealth — crucial for meeting citizenship by investment scrutiny. Additionally, Binance’s multi-jurisdictional licensing enables seamless, compliant support for internationally mobile clients.
This level of investment positions Binance as a reliable infrastructure partner for globally mobile crypto holders. Binance provides the custody, liquidity access, and source-of-wealth transparency required to engage with regulated citizenship programs.
Several jurisdictions now explicitly or indirectly accept crypto in their citizenship or residence by investment programs. Portugal, for instance, offers golden visa eligibility via investments in crypto-backed sustainable funds such as the ‘Bitcoin Eco’ fund. Hong Kong has accepted Bitcoin and Ethereum as legitimate wealth verification in its new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme. And El Salvador offers citizenship via a USD 1 million crypto investment in its national economy.
These cases reflect a pattern of structured integration between crypto and global mobility instruments.
Citizenship programs stand to benefit significantly from cryptocurrency integration, not just as proof of wealth but as capital that flows directly into domestic crypto industries. When investors can direct funds towards local blockchain startups, infrastructure projects, or crypto businesses, citizenship by investment jurisdictions gain access to innovation capital while building technology-driven economies.
Most citizenship programs concentrate on investments in real estate, government bonds, or established businesses. The crypto sector remains largely unexplored territory. Since crypto evolved from grassroots origins rather than institutional finance, its infrastructure still requires substantial development before meeting the standards wealthy investors expect. This ‘blue ocean’ gap offers investment migration jurisdictions an opportunity to establish themselves as digital asset leaders.
Beyond direct investment opportunities, citizenship programs can unlock a range of complementary efficiencies, contributing to sustainable economic development and innovation leadership. The following examples illustrate how integrating crypto can generate layered value for investors and host countries alike.
For starters, governments can partner with crypto firms to create regulatory sandboxes and innovation centers. Dubai provides a useful case study, having partnered with IBM to identify blockchain applications across government services, from vehicle registrations to business licensing. This made Dubai an early testing ground for blockchain in government administration.
Tokenizing traditional assets such as real estate or government bonds creates new possibilities. A USD 100,000 bond becomes divisible into smaller units that trade continuously. Investors familiar with crypto markets recognize these advantages immediately.
Blockchain projects in renewable energy and financial inclusion align well with growing environmental, social, and governance investment criteria. Investment migration programs that support these ventures strengthen their international reputation while appealing to values-driven investors. Countries investing in blockchain education, whether training lawyers in relevant smart contract law or training accountants in DeFi auditing, build the expertise required for long-term industry growth and innovation.
Finally, international money transfers remain slow and costly through traditional channels. Crypto-enabled cross-border payment solutions reduce transfer times to minutes and costs to fractions of traditional fees. These combined benefits make residence and citizenship programs more competitive in attracting technology-focused investment.
Crypto is gaining traction as financial infrastructure for those pursuing self-directed mobility. Its expanding use in regulated investment migration programs marks a turning point in how digital wealth can support individual sovereignty. Licensed, compliance-oriented platforms with a global presence are now positioned to support these strategies with the scale and credibility required.
In this environment, crypto operates as a vector of mobility and choice, in addition to serving as a store of value and vehicle for growth.
Henley & Partners assists international clients in obtaining residence and citizenship under the respective programs. Contact us to arrange an initial private consultation.
