It’s May 2025, and the cryptocurrency world is buzzing with energy, like a busy marketplace on a Saturday morning. If you’re new to this, don’t worry—I’ll explain everything in simple terms, like teaching a friend how to use a new app. Cryptocurrencies, or “cryptos,” are digital money that exist online, not like the coins or bills in your pocket. They’re built on something called a blockchain, which is like a digital notebook that records every transaction securely and shares it across thousands of computers worldwide, so no one can cheat or change it.
One of the biggest stories in 2025 is the digital wallet industry, which is worth a massive $10 trillion, according to a Thunes report from April 2025. That’s trillion with a “T”—a number so huge it’s hard to wrap your head around! Digital wallets are apps or platforms on your phone or computer where you can store, send, and receive money, including cryptos. They’re like the wallet in your pocket, but instead of cash and cards, they hold digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even fun ones like Dogecoin. This market is growing fast—projected to hit $17 trillion by 2029—because people and businesses are using their phones to pay for everything, from groceries to global business deals.
In this story, we’ll dive into the most popular cryptos in 2025, how they fit into the digital wallet ecosystem, and how digital wallets are bridging the gap between traditional finance—like banks and merchant accounts—and the crypto world. We’ll also explore why Dogecoin, a crypto that started as a joke, is set to make a big comeback now that Elon Musk has stepped down from his U.S. government advisor role. Plus, we’ll look at how blockchain and cryptos are fueling the $10 trillion digital wallet boom. Let’s get started!
What Are Cryptos and Digital Wallets?
Let’s break it down. Imagine you’re at a fair, and instead of cash, everyone uses special tokens to buy snacks or play games. Cryptocurrencies are like those tokens, but they’re used online for buying things, sending money, or investing. Bitcoin, the first crypto, started in 2009 and is like digital gold—valuable because there’s only a limited amount (21 million Bitcoins will ever exist).
Digital wallets are the fair’s ticket booth where you keep those tokens. Apps like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and PayPal are digital wallets you might already use for regular money, but many now let you hold cryptos too. There are also crypto-specific wallets like MetaMask or Trust Wallet, designed to manage digital currencies and work with blockchain technology. These wallets let you pay for stuff, trade cryptos, or even play games in virtual worlds like the metaverse.
The blockchain is the secret sauce. Think of it as a chain of blocks, where each block is a page in that notebook I mentioned. Every time someone sends or receives crypto, it’s written on a new page, locked with a special code, and shared across thousands of computers. This makes blockchain super secure and transparent, which is why it’s perfect for digital wallets. In 2025, the digital wallet industry is a $10 trillion powerhouse because blockchain lets people send money across the world instantly, without banks slowing things down or charging big fees.
The $10 Trillion Digital Wallet Boom: Why It’s Happening
Why is the digital wallet market worth $10 trillion and growing so fast? Let’s look at the big reasons. First, almost everyone has a smartphone—over 6.8 billion people, according to Statista. That’s nearly the whole world! Phones make it easy to tap and pay at stores or send money to a friend with a few clicks. Digital wallets like PayPal and Alipay make this seamless, and they’re adding crypto options, so you can pay with Bitcoin or Ethereum just as easily as with dollars.
Second, people in places like Africa and India, where banks aren’t always easy to access, are using digital wallets to join the economy. In Kenya, a wallet called M-Pesa lets people send money, pay bills, and even get loans without a bank account, handling over $300 billion in transactions yearly. In India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) powers wallets like PhonePe, processing $2 trillion in transactions in 2024, per the National Payments Corporation of India. These wallets often support cryptos, so more people are using digital currencies every day.
Third, businesses are jumping on board because digital wallets are fast and cheap. If a company in the U.S. needs to pay a supplier in China, a bank transfer might take days and cost a lot in fees. But with a digital wallet using blockchain, it can happen in seconds for almost no cost. Platforms like Ripple and Stellar, which we’ll talk about later, are built for this kind of cross-border magic. This is a big reason the digital wallet market is expected to grow to $17 trillion by 2029—it’s just too convenient to ignore.
Finally, cryptos and blockchain are the engine driving this growth. Blockchain makes transactions secure and transparent, so you don’t have to worry about fraud. Digital wallets use blockchain to let you store and spend cryptos, and some even let you earn interest on your holdings through something called decentralized finance (DeFi). In 2025, the lines between regular money and crypto are blurring, and digital wallets are the bridge connecting them.
Digital Wallets and Traditional Finance: The Big Connection
Now, let’s talk about how digital wallets are shaking up traditional finance—like banks, merchant banking, and online banking accounts. You might think digital wallets are just for tech-savvy crypto fans, but they’re actually working hand-in-hand with the old-school financial world, and that’s a big part of their $10 trillion success story.
Traditional Banks and Digital Wallets
Traditional banks, like Chase or Wells Fargo, have been around forever, right? They’re the places where you keep your savings account or get a loan. But in 2025, banks are realizing they can’t ignore digital wallets—they’re too popular. Many banks are now adding digital wallet options to their apps. For example, Bank of America’s mobile app lets you link to Apple Pay or Google Wallet, so you can tap your phone to pay at stores instead of using a debit card. In 2024, 80% of U.S. banks offered some kind of digital wallet integration, according to a PYMNTS report, and that number is growing.
Banks are also starting to support cryptos through digital wallets. JPMorgan Chase, one of the biggest banks in the world, launched its own blockchain platform called Onyx in 2020, and by 2025, it’s integrated with digital wallets to let customers hold and trade Bitcoin and Ethereum. This means you can manage your regular bank account and your crypto all in one place. Banks like this because it keeps customers from leaving for crypto-only platforms like Coinbase, and it helps them stay relevant in the $10 trillion digital wallet market.
Merchant Banking and Digital Wallets
Merchant banking is when banks provide services to businesses, like helping them process payments from customers or manage international trade. Digital wallets are changing this game too. In the past, if you owned a store, you’d use a bank to set up a merchant account to accept credit card payments. That process could take days, and the bank would charge fees—sometimes 3% or more per transaction.
Now, digital wallets are stepping in. Platforms like Square and Stripe, which are basically digital wallets for businesses, let merchants accept payments instantly, including cryptos. In 2025, Stripe processes $1 trillion in payments annually, and it supports Bitcoin and USDC (a stablecoin pegged to the dollar), according to TechCrunch. This means a small business can accept crypto payments without needing a traditional merchant account from a bank. Digital wallets are faster and cheaper—Stripe’s fees are around 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction—and they use blockchain to make sure payments are secure.
Big banks are taking notice. In 2025, banks like Citibank are partnering with digital wallet providers to offer merchant services. For example, Citibank’s merchant clients can now use a digital wallet to accept payments in XRP for international sales, cutting costs and speeding up settlements. This shows how digital wallets are blending with traditional merchant banking, making it easier for businesses to operate in the $10 trillion digital wallet ecosystem.
Online Banking Accounts and Digital Wallets
Online banking accounts—like the ones you access through your bank’s website or app—are also getting a digital wallet makeover. In 2025, most online banking apps have digital wallet features built in. For instance, Wells Fargo’s app lets you store your debit card in a digital wallet section, so you can pay with your phone or smartwatch. Some banks, like Barclays in the UK, are going further—they let you hold cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum directly in your online banking account, using a digital wallet powered by blockchain.
This trend is growing fast. A 2024 McKinsey report found that 60% of online banking users want crypto options, and banks are racing to add them. By 2026, McKinsey predicts 90% of online banking platforms will have digital wallet features, including crypto support. This is a big deal because it brings traditional finance and the crypto world closer together. You can check your savings, pay a bill, and trade Dogecoin all from your bank’s app, thanks to digital wallets.
The $10 trillion digital wallet market is thriving because it’s not just for crypto nerds—it’s for everyone. Traditional banks, merchant banking, and online banking accounts are all jumping on the digital wallet train, either by building their own or partnering with platforms like Apple Pay or Stripe. This means you can use the same wallet to pay with your bank account, a credit card, or even Bitcoin, all in one place.
Popular Cryptos in 2025: The Big Players in Digital Wallets
With that connection in mind, let’s look at the most popular cryptos in 2025 and how they fit into the digital wallet ecosystem, including their role in traditional finance. These are the coins you’ll find in wallets like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and even bank apps.
1. Bitcoin: The King of Crypto
Bitcoin is still the biggest crypto in 2025, with a price around $93,000 and a market cap over $2 trillion, per CryptoSlate. It’s like digital gold—people buy it as an investment because there’s a limited supply of 21 million coins. In digital wallets, Bitcoin is widely accepted. You can use it to buy a Tesla, book a trip on Expedia, or pay at some stores. Wallets like Coinbase Wallet and BitPay make this easy, and Bitcoin’s blockchain keeps transactions secure.
Banks are getting involved too. In 2025, banks like Goldman Sachs let clients hold Bitcoin in their online banking accounts through a digital wallet, according to Forbes. This means you can manage your Bitcoin alongside your savings, all in one app. Bitcoin’s role in the $10 trillion digital wallet market is as a store of value and a payment option for big purchases, though its slower speed (7 transactions per second) makes it less ideal for small payments.
2. Ethereum: The Brainy Blockchain
Ethereum is the second-largest crypto, with a market cap of $500 billion and a price of $4,000, per CryptoSlate. It’s not just a currency—it’s a platform for building apps, like games, financial tools, and NFTs (digital art). Its blockchain handles over 30 transactions per second, and upgrades like Arbitrum make it faster.
In digital wallets, Ethereum is a star because it powers so many other cryptos. Tokens like USDT (a stablecoin) and FLOKI (a meme coin) run on Ethereum’s blockchain. Wallets like MetaMask let you trade NFTs, lend money through DeFi, or play games in the metaverse. Traditional finance is jumping in—JPMorgan uses Ethereum’s blockchain for its Onyx platform, letting merchants accept Ethereum payments through digital wallets. Ethereum’s versatility makes it a key part of the $10 trillion digital wallet market, bridging crypto and traditional finance.
3. Solana: The Speedy Newcomer
Solana is a rising star, priced at $190 with a market cap of $123 billion, per CryptoSlate. It’s super fast, handling up to 65,000 transactions per second, according to CoinGecko—46 times faster than Ethereum! Solana’s blockchain is used for NFTs, DeFi, and gaming.
In digital wallets, Solana is great for small, quick payments because of its low fees (a fraction of a cent). Wallets like Phantom let you trade tokens like Dogwifhat or stake Solana to earn rewards. Some banks, like HSBC, are testing Solana for merchant payments, letting businesses accept SOL through digital wallets for online sales, per FinTech Magazine. Solana’s speed makes it a big player in the digital wallet market, especially for e-commerce.
4. Ripple (XRP): The Cross-Border Champion
XRP, from Ripple, is priced at $2.39 with a market cap of $130 billion, per InteractiveCrypto. Ripple’s blockchain is built for cross-border payments, making international transfers fast and cheap compared to bank wires, which can take days and cost $20 or more.
Digital wallets like BitPay and Uphold support XRP, and it’s a favorite for businesses. Banks like Santander use Ripple’s blockchain to offer XRP payments through digital wallets for their merchant clients, cutting costs for international sales, per Ripple’s 2025 updates. In the $10 trillion digital wallet market, XRP helps traditional finance and crypto work together, making global payments easier.
5. Binance Coin (BNB): The Exchange Giant
Binance Coin (BNB) is the token of the Binance exchange, priced at $660 with a market cap of $94 billion, per BlockDAG. It started as a way to get discounts on Binance trading fees but now powers the Binance Smart Chain, a blockchain for apps and DeFi.
In digital wallets, BNB is tied to Binance’s ecosystem. You can use it to pay for trading fees, buy new tokens, or stake it for rewards. Wallets like Trust Wallet (owned by Binance) make BNB easy to use. Some banks, like DBS in Singapore, are integrating BNB into their online banking apps, letting clients trade it through a digital wallet, per DBS announcements. BNB’s role in the digital wallet market connects traditional finance with crypto trading.
6. Dogecoin: The Meme Coin with Heart
Dogecoin (DOGE) is priced at $0.17 with a market cap of $24.7 billion, per Coinpaper. It started in 2013 as a joke, based on the “Doge” meme of a Shiba Inu dog, but it’s become a cultural icon. Dogecoin’s blockchain is similar to Bitcoin’s but with an unlimited supply, making it inflationary.
In digital wallets, Dogecoin is popular because it’s cheap and fun. You can tip someone online, donate to charity, or buy stuff—Tesla and SpaceX accept DOGE. Wallets like Coinbase Wallet and BitPay support it, and its fast speed (30 transactions per second) makes it great for small payments. Some banks, like Ally Bank, are testing DOGE in their online banking apps, letting customers hold it in a digital wallet, per FinTech Futures. Dogecoin’s role in the $10 trillion digital wallet market is growing, especially with its upcoming comeback.
Why Dogecoin Will Bounce Back in 2025
Dogecoin has had a rollercoaster journey. In 2021, its price soared over 800% in a day, hitting $0.07, thanks to Reddit hype and Elon Musk’s tweets, per Wikipedia. Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, became Dogecoin’s biggest fan, calling it his “favorite” crypto and earning the nickname “Dogefather.” His tweets—like “One word: Doge”—sent the price soaring, and he got Tesla and SpaceX to accept DOGE for payments.
In 2024, Dogecoin got a boost when Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election and named Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a nod to the meme. The price surged to $0.31, with a market cap of $51 billion, per BlockDAG. Analysts like Galaxy Digital’s Alex Thorn predicted DOGE could hit $1 in 2025, a $100 billion market cap, per Coinbase. There was even talk of a Dogecoin ETF, letting regular investors buy it through the stock market.
But in early 2025, Musk stepped down from his government role, and Dogecoin took a hit—its price dropped to $0.17, and the “Doge Army” (its community) got quiet. The Fear and Greed Index showed low sentiment, per Coinpaper. Musk’s role had tied Dogecoin to big ideas, like using blockchain to track federal spending, per Forbes speculation. When he left, the hype faded.
Here’s why Dogecoin will bounce back now: Musk is free again. In government, his every move was watched, and some worried his DOGE support might be seen as a conflict of interest. Now, he can go back to tweeting about Dogecoin, pumping its price, and pushing adoption. In March 2025, Musk told Fortune Crypto the government has no plans to use Dogecoin, clearing the way for him to focus on DOGE without political drama.
Musk still owns DOGE, and his companies accept it, per CoinLedger. In January 2025, he changed his X profile to “Kekius Maximus” with a Pepe the Frog image, boosting a meme token called KEKIUS, per Cryptonews. If he can do that for KEKIUS, imagine what he’ll do for Dogecoin! The Dogecoin Foundation, with advisors like Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin, is also working on new features like Libdogecoin, making DOGE easier to use in apps, per Coinbase. This could bring more businesses on board.
In the digital wallet ecosystem, Dogecoin fits perfectly. It’s not a store of value like Bitcoin or a platform like Ethereum—it’s a fun, cheap way to send money. With digital wallets handling $10 trillion in transactions, DOGE’s low fees and fast speed make it ideal for tipping, donating, or buying small things. As more wallets—and even banks—add DOGE support, its adoption will grow. Analysts predict DOGE could hit $0.40 by the end of 2025, a 135% jump, if Musk starts tweeting again and the crypto market stays bullish, per Coinpaper.
How Crypto and Blockchain Tie Into Digital Wallets
Let’s see how cryptos and blockchain fit into the $10 trillion digital wallet industry, including their connection to traditional finance. Blockchain is the foundation—it makes cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin possible. Every time you send crypto through a digital wallet, the transaction is recorded on the blockchain, ensuring it’s secure and transparent. This trust is why digital wallets are so popular: you don’t need a bank to verify payments, and you can send money anywhere instantly.
Digital wallets use blockchain in different ways. When you pay with Bitcoin at a store using BitPay, the wallet converts your BTC to dollars for the merchant, and the transaction is logged on Bitcoin’s blockchain. If you’re using Ethereum on MetaMask to buy an NFT, the wallet interacts with Ethereum’s blockchain. For cross-border payments, XRP’s blockchain makes it fast and cheap, and wallets like Uphold handle the conversion.
Traditional finance is leaning on blockchain too. Banks use digital wallets to let customers hold cryptos, and merchant services use blockchain to process payments faster. Online banking apps are adding digital wallet features, letting you manage crypto alongside your regular money. In 2025, digital wallets are also supporting new blockchain trends, like DeFi (earning interest on your crypto) and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), like China’s digital yuan, used by 260 million people, per the People’s Bank of China.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Next?
The $10 trillion digital wallet market is just the beginning. By 2029, it’ll be worth $17 trillion, and cryptos will be at the heart of that growth. Bitcoin will remain the “digital gold,” Ethereum and Solana will power new apps, XRP and BNB will make payments and trading easier, and Dogecoin will bring fun to the party, especially with Musk’s support.
Traditional finance will keep evolving. Banks will offer more crypto options through digital wallets, merchant banking will use blockchain for faster payments, and online banking apps will become all-in-one platforms for money management. For you and me, digital wallets will make life easier—pay for groceries with Dogecoin, trade NFTs on Solana, or send money overseas with XRP, all from one app. Blockchain will keep it secure, and as more people get comfortable with crypto, the gap between traditional finance and digital wallets will disappear.
Dogecoin’s comeback shows that crypto is about more than tech—it’s about community and culture. With Musk free to hype it up, the Doge Army ready to rally, and digital wallets (even in banks) making DOGE easier to use, this meme coin is set to shine in 2025. The $10 trillion digital wallet market is a rocket ship, and cryptos like Dogecoin are along for the ride. Keep an eye on this space—it’s going to be a wild year!
Stay tuned here at Team Work Wallet in the time ahead, where we hope to give you unique angles in the wider macro market for digital wallets — in terms of economy news in the wider world economy.
Where digital wallets touch both traditional merchant banking apps and traditional finance news — as well as how the digital wallets like Google wallets, Pay Pal, Venmo, Cashapp, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay come into the new crypto and blockchain industries as well.
Digital wallets are the big picture that connect to everything in the world economy and in world finance these days.
