Chainalysis: US Becomes Net Bitcoin Importer as Institutions Accumulate

net Bitcoin importer — The United States has become a net importer of Bitcoin for the first time since 2022, with institutions buying while retail sells, according to a new Chainalysis report.

The blockchain analytics firm’s “North America: Inside the Growth of Agentic Commerce” report, published Wednesday, highlights a divergence in asset preference. It states that while the rest of the world pivots to using dollar-pegged stablecoins as a digital dollar alternative, American users are leaning harder on Bitcoin as a store of value.

The report links the shift to the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in early 2024, noting that America’s share of global Bitcoin activity has risen every reporting period since. This growth occurred even as the overall U.S. crypto economy contracted 2.2% in a bear market, retaining most of its gains from a near-doubling in 2025.

Meanwhile, stablecoins have turned U.S. debt into a preferred currency for cross-border business, generating billions in economic activity abroad that benefits U.S. companies and the government. The report notes this trend has continued under a regulatory framework established by pro-crypto legislation like the 2025 GENIUS Act.