Crypto sits right in the middle of the change in emerging markets. People who once struggled to access international games, streaming platforms, or betting services now find a way in through digital wallets and on-chain payments.
The shift raises an interesting question for anyone watching global entertainment: what happens when millions of new users gain instant access to gaming, sports, and online communities through crypto rather than banks? This article walks through that transformation and shows why the next wave of digital entertainment is taking shape in developing regions first.
Why entertainment is a frontier for crypto
Entertainment segments such as iGaming, sports betting, and Web3 titles tend to move faster than traditional finance. In many developing markets, large parts of the population still operate without bank accounts, so people rely on mobile wallets and peer-to-peer transfers for everyday spending. Crypto simply adds a payment rail. Investor interest has been strong as well: Value The Markets reports that blockchains connected to gambling and betting drew more than $2.3 billion in 2024.
For players who don’t have stable access to banks, crypto gives a practical way to join entertainment platforms. Transfers settle on-chain, avoid local banking delays, and support instant cross-border activity. For many first-time users, this becomes the quickest path into global digital entertainment.
Crypto as a tool for financial inclusion
Crypto adoption is not uniform and deeply tied to the promise of financial inclusion. Emerging markets lead everyday crypto usage, according to the Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index. Countries such as Nigeria, Vietnam, and Pakistan show some of the strongest retail activity, which reflects a broader push toward financial access in places where traditional banking often falls short.
Crypto allows people to make micropayments, receive immediate payouts, and engage in entertainment without relying on legacy financial infrastructure. In iGaming, for example, users can deposit into casinos or betting platforms with stablecoins or small-value crypto, avoiding the friction of fiat-based onramps.
In markets with limited banking access, options like the Sportbet.one crypto sportsbook provide inclusive entry points to global sports engagement. By using crypto rails, users gain access to real-money betting without traditional bank accounts or credit cards, leveling up their ability to participate in global entertainment.
Crypto as a tool for creators
For content creators and entertainers, crypto offers a way to bypass traditional payment systems. Streamers, indie developers, and esports players can receive tokenized micro-tips or stablecoin earnings directly, without relying on slow or opaque payment processors. So, creators use crypto payouts as they allow them to retain more value and engage globally.
Tokenized rewards also reduce friction in paying creators: viewers can support their favorite channels or games with small, on-chain tips, even in regions where payment infrastructure is weak. That helps build a more equitable system, especially in markets where content creators lack access to conventional monetization routes.
This model motivates creators to produce more work and stay close to their audiences, since they receive immediate, visible rewards that confirm their effort has real value. In return, those same creators introduce more users to crypto and help push new ideas into the market.
Regional stories: How crypto reshapes entertainment
Sub-Saharan Africa offers one of the strongest case studies. On-chain activity in the region jumped by 52% year-over-year as of June 2025, based on Chainalysis data, and that growth is visible across everyday entertainment habits.
In countries where many people rely on mobile wallets instead of bank accounts, crypto-powered platforms fit naturally into how people already pay for transport, food, and utilities.
Gaming apps that settle rewards in stablecoins, peer-to-peer fantasy sports rooms, and lightweight betting platforms all run on the same mobile infrastructure people use for daily expenses.
Someone in Nairobi can top up a mobile wallet and jump into a blockchain-based prediction game in minutes. That speed opens the door for entirely new entertainment routines, especially for young users who already spend most of their online time on mobile-first platforms.
Eastern Europe shows a different pattern. Here, the rise comes from decentralized finance. Chainalysis reports that DeFi usage in the region grew by more than a third between mid-2023 and mid-2024. In practice, that means users move fluidly between staking, gaming, prediction markets, and NFT-based projects.
A gamer in might fund a Web3 game using the same wallet they use for yield farming, while a streamer in Warsaw can receive micropayments from supporters across borders without waiting for payout cycles. Entertainment becomes part of a broader digital economy where investment and recreation sit in the same ecosystem. The boundaries blur: a gaming token can double as a governance asset, and a prediction-market win can instantly move into a stablecoin to pay for other services.
Other regions follow similar arcs. In Southeast Asia, play-to-earn models introduced during the pandemic pushed millions toward wallets and exchanges, even if the original games faded in popularity.
The infrastructure stayed. Today, musicians, indie developers, and esports organizers in the Philippines and Vietnam use crypto payments to reach global audiences without depending on legacy payment rails. Even small studios benefit: digital collectibles tied to local shows or influencer-backed games can monetize fan communities that were previously hard to reach due to limited card access.
Viewed together, these regional shifts reveal the same underlying trend. Crypto is not only functioning as an investment tool, but becoming a practical gateway into entertainment sectors. For many users in emerging markets, it’s the first reliable way to join global gaming ecosystems, support creators directly, and participate in experiences that were previously out of reach.
