According to Golden Finance, only 4% of the world's population currently holds Bitcoin, of which the United States has the highest holding concentration, with an estimated 14% of individuals owning BTC. North America remains the continent with the highest rates of individual and institutional adoption, while Africa is currently the lowest at just 1.6%, according to a research report by BTC financial services firm River. Overall, BTC adoption rates tend to be higher in developed regions than in developing regions. River estimates that BTC achieves only 3% of its maximum adoption potential — a sign that the digital currency is still in its early stages of global adoption.