Everybody Holds Crypto: Why Your Location, Laws, and Wallet Matter More Than You Think

When we say Everybody Holds crypto, the idea that cryptocurrency ownership is now widespread, regardless of country or background. Also known as universal crypto adoption, it’s not just about wallets—it’s about what you’re allowed to do with them. You might own Bitcoin, Ethereum, or a meme coin like LOCKIN—but if you’re in Myanmar, trading it could shut down your bank account. If you’re in the EU, sending USDT might be illegal. And if you’re in the U.S., the IRS wants a detailed report of every trade you made last year. Everybody Holds crypto doesn’t mean everybody can use it the same way.

The truth is, crypto isn’t one thing. It’s a patchwork of rules shaped by governments, banks, and enforcement agencies. In Colombia, crypto is legal but unregulated—so you can trade freely, but with zero protection. In El Salvador, Bitcoin was once legal tender, but now it’s held as a national reserve, not spent at the grocery store. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, you can trade crypto but can’t pay for coffee with it. These aren’t just policy differences—they’re life-altering boundaries. Your crypto legal status, the official permission granted by a country to own, trade, or use cryptocurrency depends entirely on where you are. And if you’re in a country on the FATF blacklist, a global list of nations flagged for failing to prevent crypto-based money laundering and terrorist financing like Iran or North Korea, your crypto use isn’t just risky—it’s dangerous.

Even the exchanges you use aren’t safe everywhere. DEx.top works without KYC in some places, but Bitwired? It’s a scam. Bittime offers high yields but no regulation. And if you’re in New York, you can’t even run a crypto business without a BitLicense, a strict regulatory permit required by New York State for any crypto business operating in the state. Meanwhile, the EU just banned USDT and forced every tiny transfer to carry full identity data under the EU Travel Rule, a regulation requiring identity verification for all crypto transfers, no matter the amount. This isn’t about technology anymore. It’s about survival.

So if you think owning crypto means you’re part of a global, borderless movement—you’re right. But you’re also sitting in a legal minefield. Some people trade crypto to escape inflation. Others do it to bypass sanctions. Some use it to earn rewards from games. And some? They just bought a coin because it looked cool. But in 2025, what you own matters less than where you live, who’s watching, and what happens if you get caught. Below, you’ll find real stories from real places—where crypto is legal, banned, taxed, or punished. No fluff. No theory. Just what happens when the rules hit your wallet.