Stablecoins have gone from a niche cryptocurrency to one of the fastest-growing forces in global finance. They’re transforming payments and even influencing government debt. For Stablecoin Week, we partnered with Plasma, a blockchain built for global stablecoin payments, to explore the shifting dynamics. From overtaking Visa in transfer volumes to bold market size forecasts, the series revealed just how big this movement has become. Below, we’ve compiled six key takeaways. 1. Mapping Stablecoin Regulation Clear regulations can be a catalyst for institutional adoption and cross-border expansion. However, the status of regulations differs quite a bit globally. While some countries have outright bans on cryptocurrency, others have set out specific legislation that acts as guardrails for issuers, custodians, and/or users. See the map 2. The Assets Backing Stablecoins Alongside regulation, the stability of being pegged to the U.S. dollar (for 99% of stablecoins) helps boost confidence among users. But the assets held to support that stability differ depending on the issuer. Circle holds a more conservative balance sheet, while Tether has diversified into riskier assets. View the full breakdown 3. Stablecoins’ Role in the U.S. Debt Market Because Treasury securities play such a big role in the reserves of stablecoin issuers, Tether and Circle buy a lot of U.S. debt. So much, in fact, that their purchases surpass entire countries in some cases. Explore the ranking 4. Stablecoins vs. Visa and Mastercard Outside of debt markets, stablecoins are also a major player in the global payments landscape. Their near-instant, very low-cost transfers have fueled stablecoins’ popularity. As recently as 2020, stablecoin transfer volume was far below that of Visa or Mastercard. Now, stablecoins have skyrocketed to outpace both major payment networks. Explore the comparison 5. Comparing Stablecoin Value to U.S. Cash Stablecoins are growing quickly, but it can be hard to grasp just how much they’re growing without context. We measured the stablecoin market cap relative to the value of all physical U.S. cash in circulation, which includes paper bills and coins.  In 2020, the value of stablecoins was equivalent to just 1% of U.S. cash in circulation. However, their market cap has surged over the last five years. See the growth of stablecoins 6. Stablecoin Market Size by 2030 How big could the stablecoin industry get within the next five years? According to Citi, the market could grow more than 14 times larger by 2030.  Experts expect this growth will be driven by three factors: the shift of U.S. cash and deposits into digital tokens, the replacement of international short-term liquidity tools with stablecoins, and the growing role of stablecoins as the backbone of cryptocurrency adoption. View the forecast Looking Ahead: The Digital Dollar Era Stablecoins are no longer on the periphery of finance. Instead, they’re redefining how money moves. From evolving regulations to their momentum against traditional payment methods, their trajectory points toward deeper integration with global markets. Plasma is building the infrastructure to power this next era, enabling global stablecoin transactions that move money with speed and scale.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: European Union Debt-to-GDP by Country See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The European Union’s debt ratio stood at 82% in Q1 2025, down from 92% in Q1 2021. While debt is falling in Greece and Italy, France’s debt rose to a record $4 trillion in September, with the country facing the widest deficit across the bloc. As European countries pour billions into defense spending, their debt piles are expanding—raising questions of national fiscal stability. In France, a rising debt ratio led Fitch to downgrade its credit rating in September. The country has faced ongoing political turmoil as the country’s debt supply recently hit a record $4 trillion. This graphic shows European Union debt-to-GDP by country, based on data from Eurostat. The State of European Union Debt-to-GDP in 2025 Below, we show general government gross debt as a percentage of GDP as of Q1 2025 in the EU: CountryGeneral Government Gross Debt (% of GDP) Greece153 Italy138 France114 Belgium107 Spain104 Portugal96 Austria85 Finland84 Hungary75 Slovenia70 Cyprus64 Slovakia63 Germany62 Croatia58 Poland57 Romania56 Malta48 Latvia46 Norway45 Czechia43 Netherlands43 Lithuania41 Ireland35 Sweden34 Denmark30 Luxembourg26 Estonia24 Bulgaria24 European Union82 While Greece’s economy is thriving in 2025—supported by tourism, real estate, and shipping sectors—its debt situation continues to rank as the worst in the EU. However, its debt-to-GDP ratio has steadily fallen in recent years, from 180% in 2022 to 153% today. Given its recent economic momentum, the country launched an innovation and infrastructure fund with BlackRock designed to attract $1.2 billion in foreign investment. Italy holds the second-highest debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU, at 138%. However, the country has made notable progress in narrowing its deficit, cutting it from 7.2% of GDP in 2023 to 3.4% in 2024 on the back of strong tax revenues. Like Greece, its debt levels have been gradually trending downward. By contrast, debt is rising in France, where it stands at 114% of GDP. In efforts to combat its deteriorating fiscal situation, the French government has raised the retirement age, and proposed cutting two national holidays—stoking public outrage. Meanwhile, Germany’s debt ratio of 62% falls significantly below the EU average of 82%. At the same time, the country has eased its fiscal rules with massive defense spending, causing debt levels to rise. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on debt to GDP by country worldwide.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: The Number of People in Poverty in U.S. Cities See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways New York City has the highest absolute number of people living under the poverty line across U.S. cities, which stood at an income of $16,320 for a single person in 2024. Los Angeles follows next, at 1.6 million, driven by rising unaffordability and housing scarcity. Poverty in U.S. cities has worsened in recent years, as inflation has meaningfully impacted the ability to make ends meet for thousands of people. This map shows the number of people living in poverty in 2024 across the 25 largest U.S. metros, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 2.5 Million New Yorkers Live in Poverty In 2024, 13% of New York City’s population lived in poverty reaching 2.5 million people, the highest number overall—exacerbated by limited housing supply. Making matters worse, poverty has increased since pandemic-era relief expired, with many who live in poverty employed. Not only that, 26% of children in New York City lived in poverty in 2023, a separate analysis shows. Metro areaBelow Poverty in 2024Share of Population in Poverty in 2024 (%) New York2,457,92513 Los Angeles1,577,38712 Houston1,105,43414 Chicago1,026,92811 Miami799,45013 Dallas810,78110 Philadelphia668,88211 Atlanta633,70410 Detroit616,00014 Phoenix511,08110 Washington, DC523,2328 Riverside523,04811 Boston427,3479 San Francisco Bay Area410,4589 Tampa Bay370,36111 Seattle356,2339 San Antonio359,68113 Orlando320,13712 San Diego331,55310 Minneapolis–St. Paul291,6158 Charlotte306,30310 St. Louis285,46710 Baltimore257,3219 Denver256,1629 Austin229,7369 Ranking in second is Los Angeles, with 1.6 million living in poverty, or about 900,000 fewer than New York City. Yet across California, 187,100 people are homeless, the highest in America, exceeding New York by approximately 30,000. While California is an economic powerhouse, it also faces chronic poverty driven by high costs of living and the highest unemployment rate in the country. With 1.1 million people in poverty, Houston follows next. Notably, 14% of the city’s population is impoverished, falling at similar levels as Detroit—the U.S. city with the ninth-biggest impoverished population overall. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on poverty rates in Europe in 2024.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization How Europe’s Cities Have Grown Since 1975 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Europe’s urban areas form an extensive and continuous corridor, making it one of the most developed regions in the world. Metropolitan areas like London and Paris have expanded steadily through a combination of sprawl and densification. Europe’s cities have changed dramatically in size and shape since 1975. Urban areas across the continent have sprawled outward, merging into large corridors of continuous development. This visualization highlights the urban growth of major European cities, showing how population and settlement patterns have evolved. The data for this map comes from World Population Review and Copernicus. The Largest Urban Areas Moscow leads as Europe’s most populous city, with over 12.7 million people projected by 2025. Paris follows closely with 11.3 million, while London ranks third with nearly 10 million. These cities have long histories of urban development and continue to expand, both in terms of area and density. CityCountryPopulation in 2025Population in 2025 MoscowRussia7,623,00012,737,400 ParisFrance8,558,00011,346,800 LondonUnited Kingdom7,124,0009,840,740 MadridSpain3,890,0006,810,530 BarcelonaSpain3,679,0005,733,250 Saint PetersburgRussia4,325,0005,597,340 RomeItaly3,300,0004,347,100 BerlinGermany3,130,0003,580,190 MilanItaly3,133,0003,167,450 AthensGreece2,738,0003,155,320 LisbonPortugal2,103,0003,028,270 ManchesterUnited Kingdom2,370,0002,832,580 KyivUkraine1,926,0002,797,553 BirminghamUnited Kingdom583,0002,704,620 Southern Europe’s Urban Growth Madrid and Barcelona have a combined urban population exceeding 12.5 million. Italian cities like Rome, Milan, and Naples also feature prominently, reflecting decades of steady growth tied to industry and migration. Fast-Growing Second-Tier Cities Several cities outside the traditional top three have seen striking increases in population since 1975. Madrid’s urban population nearly doubled from 3.9 million to 6.8 million, while Kyiv grew from 1.9 million to nearly 2.8 million. Birmingham saw the most dramatic percentage rise—from just 583,000 to over 2.7 million. From Lisbon to Saint Petersburg, most of the featured cities experienced substantial population growth over the past five decades. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: European Countries With the Most Immigrants on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization The Top Causes of Death in the United States See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The 10 leading causes of death account for 71% of all deaths occurring in the United States. Accidents are the #3 cause of death in the U.S. (222,698 deaths, 7.2%). Unintentional injuries rank #3 for men (9.2% of deaths), but only #6 for women (5.0%). This infographic shows the leading causes of death in the U.S., based on recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heart Disease and Cancer Dominate Heart disease was responsible for 680,981 deaths (22% of the total), making it the leading cause of death. Cancer followed closely with 613,352 deaths (nearly 20%). Accidents Rank Third Unintentional injuries, often tied to traffic accidents, falls, or overdoses, caused 222,698 deaths. This makes them the third-leading cause of death overall, and a major outlier compared to other chronic or age-related conditions. Notably, accidents impact men more heavily, ranking third for them, while they fall to sixth among women. RankCause of DeathDeaths% of Total 1Heart diseases680,98122.0% 2Cancer613,35219.8% 3Accidental injuries222,6987.2% 4Cerebrovascular diseases162,6395.3% 5Chronic lower respiratory diseases145,3574.7% 6Alzheimer disease114,0343.7% 7Diabetes95,1903.1% 8Kidney diseases55,2531.8% 9Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis52,2221.7% 10COVID-1949,9321.6% -Other Causes899,30629.1% -All causes (total)3,090,964100.0% Aging-Related Diseases on the Rise Alzheimer’s disease ranked sixth with 114,034 deaths, reflecting the country’s aging population. Meanwhile, other chronic conditions such as diabetes (95,190 deaths) and kidney disease (55,253 deaths) also remain significant. Although COVID-19 caused nearly 50,000 deaths in 2023, it now ranks tenth, far below its peak impact earlier in the pandemic. Chronic Conditions Among Women For women, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease rank higher than among men, reflecting longevity differences and aging-related health risks. Stroke is the third-leading cause of death for women at 6.2%, compared to fourth for men at 4.4%. Alzheimer’s also ranks higher among women (5.3%) than men (2.2%), consistent with the fact that women live longer on average. RankFemale – Cause of Death% 1Heart disease20.7 2Cancer19.8 3Stroke6.2 4Alzheimer disease5.3 5Chronic lower respiratory diseases5.3 6Unintentional injuries5 7Diabetes2.7 8Kidney disease1.8 9COVID-191.6 10Hypertension1.5 —Other30 Mental Health and Other Conditions Suicide appears in the top 10 for men, making up 2.4% of all male deaths, but it does not appear on the female list. Conversely, hypertension ranks tenth among women (1.5%), while it does not appear in the male rankings. RankMale – Cause of Death% 1Heart disease23.3 2Cancer19.9 3Unintentional injuries9.2 4Stroke4.4 5Chronic lower respiratory diseases4.2 6Diabetes3.4 7Suicide2.4 8Alzheimer disease2.2 9Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis2 10Kidney disease1.8 —Other27.3 Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The U.S. States Leading in Organ Donations on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization How Cities in the Americas Have Grown Since 1975 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways North America’s build-up since 1975 has been focused around major corridors such as the U.S. East Coast and the Great Lakes Urban concentration has also increased significantly in Mexico and Brazil; population in both countries has roughly doubled since 1975 Urbanization in the Americas has seen remarkable changes since 1975. This visualization shows how major metropolitan areas across North, Central, and South America have expanded in population and density over the past five decades. While U.S. cities grew steadily, cities in Latin America experienced some of the most dramatic urban booms. The data for this visualization comes from World Population Review. Latin America’s Explosive Urban Growth Cities like São Paulo, Mexico City, and Bogotá have more than doubled in population since 1975. São Paulo, for instance, expanded from under 10 million to nearly 23 million. This growth reflects broader urbanization trends in Latin America, where rural-to-urban migration has accelerated due to economic shifts, better job opportunities, and access to services in cities. Metro AreaCountry19752025 Sao PauloBrazil9,614,00022,990,000 Rio de JaneiroBrazil7,733,00013,923,000 New York CityUSA15,880,00019,154,000 Los AngelesUSA8,926,00012,678,000 Mexico CityMexico10,734,00022,752,000 SantiagoChile3,138,0006,999,000 BogotaColombia3,040,00011,796,000 Steady Expansion in U.S. Cities U.S. metro areas such as New York City and Los Angeles saw significant but more moderate growth. NYC grew from 15.9 million in 1975 to over 19 million in 2025. The East Coast, Great Lakes, and Southern California corridors have remained population magnets. Canada’s Sparse Urban Footprint Canada, despite its vast landmass, remains lightly urbanized outside of key areas like Toronto and Vancouver. Geographic barriers and a harsh climate have concentrated most of its population in a narrow southern band. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Total Area of Every Country, in One Chart on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Use This Visualization Visualized: Stablecoin Market Size Forecast into 2030 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The stablecoin market grew from $28 billion in 2020 to $282 billion in 2025, a tenfold increase in just five years. By 2030, Citi’s base case projects $1.9 trillion in stablecoins, with $648 billion from banknote reallocation, $518 billion from liquidity substitution, and $702 billion from crypto adoption. Stablecoins have rapidly shifted from niche crypto assets to one of the fastest-growing segments in finance. Their promise of price stability combined with blockchain’s efficiency has drawn in both retail and institutional users, pushing stablecoin market size to an estimated $282 billion in 2025. This visualization uses data and forecasts from Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions Stablecoin 2030 report to show the stablecoin market’s size from 2020 to 2025, with base and bull case forecasts for 2030. The Stablecoin Market’s Growth and 2030 Forecast In 2020, the stablecoin market was valued at just $28 billion. By 2025, this figure had surged to $282 billion—a tenfold increase in only five years. The data table below shows the size of the stablecoin market from 2020 to 2025, along with Citi’s base and bull case forecasts for 2030. YearStablecoin market size (billions, USD) 2020$28 2021$167 2022$138 2023$130 2024$204 2025$282 2030 (base case forecast)$1,900 2030 (bull case forecast)$4,000 The rapid expansion from 2020 to 2025 occurred as stablecoins became a key liquidity tool in crypto trading and DeFi applications. Despite fluctuations in crypto markets, stablecoins like Tether and Circle have consistently gained traction as a bridge between traditional finance and cryptocurrency. Stablecoin Market Size Forecasts for 2030 Citi projects the stablecoin market could reach $1.9 trillion by 2030 in its base case, while a more optimistic bull case envisions as much as $4 trillion. The table below gives a detailed breakdown of the contributions to the forecasts: YearStablecoin market size (billions, USD)Reallocation of USD bank notes and deposits contribution to forecast Substitution of international short term liquidity contribution to forecast Growing cryptocurrency adoption contribution to forecast 2030 (base case forecast)$1,868$648$518$702 2030 (bull case forecast)$3,987$1,591$1,308$1,088 These figures are built on three pillars: the shift of U.S. cash and deposits into digital tokens, the replacement of international short-term liquidity tools with stablecoins, and the growing role of stablecoins as the backbone of cryptocurrency adoption as the ecosystem grows. Even in the base case, the stablecoin market size is projected to grow by 6.7x, as it likely becomes an even more integrated and utilized part of the global finance industry. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about where stablecoins stand in the overall crypto ecosystem, check out this graphic breaking down the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: How Often People Visit the Dentist by Country This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The Dutch visit the dentist the most (3.4x times per year), reflecting a culture that emphasizes preventative oral care. People in South Korea and Japan also go frequently (1.7–3.1x a year), mirroring those countries’ high rates of overall doctor visits. Good oral health hinges on more than just brushing and flossing. It also requires routine check-ups. This ranking visualizes how often people visit the dentist using data from OECD Health Statistics. It measures the average number of in-person dental consultations per resident in 2023 (or latest year available), last updated 2024. These Countries Visit the Dentist the Most The Dutch see their dentist an average of once every 15 weeks. Universal dental coverage for children, widespread private insurance for adults, and a national emphasis on prevention all help normalize regular cleanings. RankCountryRegionAverage Annual Dental Visits per Person 1 NetherlandsEurope3.4 2 Japan*Asia3.1 3 FranceEurope1.7 4 South KoreaAsia1.7 5 LithuaniaEurope1.6 6 CzechiaEurope1.5 7 EstoniaEurope1.5 8 GermanyEurope1.5 9 LuxembourgEurope1.5 10 ItalyEurope1.4 11 Canada*Northern America1.3 12 BelgiumEurope1.3 13 Slovak RepublicEurope1.3 14 AustriaEurope1.2 15 Sweden**Europe1.2 16 Australia*Oceania1.1 17 LatviaEurope1.1 18 CroatiaEurope1.1 19 Switzerland*Europe1.0 20 U.S.*Northern America1.0 21 FinlandEurope1.0 22 PolandEurope0.9 23 DenmarkEurope0.8 24 TürkiyeAsia0.7 25 BulgariaEurope0.7 26 HungaryEurope0.6 27 UKEurope0.6 28 Chile**South & Central America0.5 29 Costa RicaAmericas0.4 30 RomaniaEurope0.3 31 MexicoSouth & Central America0.1 Note: *As of 2022. **As of 2024. Industry surveys also show that nearly nine in 10 Dutch adults schedule a check-up at least once a year, underscoring how policy and culture reinforce each other. East Asia’s High-Frequency Dental Visits Japan (3.1 annual visits) and South Korea (1.7) trail only the Netherlands (and France). Both countries also lead the OECD in overall doctor consultations. Koreans visit physicians roughly 16 times per year, while Japanese patients average 11 visits. Frequent medical touch-points make semi-annual or even quarterly dental cleanings more convenient. And national health systems subsidize a significant share of costs. Related: See how often OECD countries visit the doctor every year. These Countries Don’t Like Going to the Dentist At the other end of the ranking, Mexico (0.1 visits) and Romania (0.3) average fewer than one dental visit every three years. These are also the poorer countries of in the OECD database, and income levels strongly correlate to better dental care. In fact, a study published in 2024 showed that high-income countries spend $260 per person on dental care, nearly 500-fold more than low-income nations. A notable exception to income correlation is the UK (0.6 visits). Long NHS wait-times and a growing reliance on private clinics have also depressed routine check-ups. Fun fact: Dental care used to be free when the NHS launched. Subsequent demand and rising costs introduced co-pays, and visits accordingly fell. Even Americans only go about once a year. Higher medical costs and a “go-when-it-hurts” attitude means many Americans delay visits until absolutely necessary. The Preventative Dividend of Dental Care The real insight in this graphic is preventative vs. necessary dental care. Regular cleanings can catch cavities early, reduce costly treatments, and even flag systemic diseases. Countries that pair insurance coverage with public-health messaging see more dental visits and reap long-term savings. As policymakers look to trim healthcare budgets, (counterintuitively) encouraging people to visit the dentist more often—and making it affordable—may be a small investment that pays outsized dividends. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Life Expectancy vs. Health Spending Per Capita on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Mapped: Extreme Poverty in America by State See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Millions of Americans are extremely impoverished, with Washington D.C. seeing 10.3% of its population earning $8,160 or less in 2024, the highest rate in the country. Louisiana (9%), Mississippi (8.5%), and New Mexico (8.2%) fall next in line, compounded by low wages and comparatively limited economic opportunity compared to other states. In 2024, 6% of the U.S. population lived in extreme poverty, equal to 20.4 million people. While there are different definitions of extreme poverty, this is represented as those earning less than $8,160 in annual income, or half of the poverty line. As the federal budget makes cuts to food assistance and healthcare, levels of extreme poverty run the risk of worsening even further. This graphic shows the share of each state living in extreme poverty in 2024, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Washington D.C. Has the Highest Level of Extreme Poverty Last year, more than one in 10 residents of the nation’s capital lived in extreme poverty. StateShare of Population Living in Extreme Poverty in 2024 District of Columbia10.3% Louisiana9.0% Mississippi8.5% New Mexico8.2% Kentucky7.6% West Virginia7.6% Alabama7.4% Arkansas7.4% Oklahoma7.2% New York7.0% South Carolina6.6% Michigan6.5% Ohio6.4% Tennessee6.4% Rhode Island6.4% North Carolina6.3% Georgia6.2% Arizona6.1% Hawaii6.1% Texas6.0% United States6.0% California6.0% Florida6.0% Illinois5.9% Indiana5.9% Missouri5.9% Oregon5.9% Nevada5.8% North Dakota5.7% Pennsylvania5.6% Alaska5.6% Iowa5.5% Nebraska5.4% Colorado5.3% Delaware5.3% Washington5.2% Connecticut5.2% South Dakota5.2% Virginia5.1% Wisconsin5.1% Kansas5.1% Wyoming5.1% Massachusetts5.0% Maine5.0% Maryland4.8% New Jersey4.7% Montana4.7% Minnesota4.6% Idaho4.6% Utah4.5% Vermont4.0% New Hampshire3.9% Extreme poverty threshold represents total income before taxes and tax credits, excluding housing assistance and other noncash benefits. Going further, economic hardship disproportionately impacts people of color in Washington D.C., with one in three black children living in poverty between 2019 and 2023, on average. As we can see, Southern states also rank among the most impoverished. In Louisiana, 9% of residents live in extreme poverty, and on average, 18.9% lived below the poverty line between 2021 and 2023. Meanwhile, 7% of New York’s population are extremely impoverished, equal to an estimated 1.4 million people. On the other end of the spectrum is New Hampshire with the lowest rate nationally, at 3.9%. The Granite State benefits from a stable job market, low unemployment, and a strong education system. Paired with relatively affordable healthcare, these factors contribute to higher living standards for its residents, reducing the risk of poverty. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s poorest countries by GDP per capita.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Charted: Student Loan Debt in America This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways There are more than 45 million student loan borrowers in the U.S. as of 2025. Over half (56%) of borrowers owe less than $25,000 in student debt. Roughly 4 million borrowers owe $75,000 or more, including 1 million with balances above $200,000. Student loan debt is one of the defining financial issues in the United States, shaping the lives of younger generations and fueling debates about higher education policy. This infographic uses data from the FRBNY Consumer Credit Panel to show the number of Americans with federally managed student loans by debt balance as of Q4 2024. Breaking Down America’s Student Loan Burden Here’s the distribution of student loan borrowers by debt balance: Debt BalanceNumber of student loan borrowers (millions) $1 to $5,0007M $5,000 to $10,0007M $10,000 to $25,00011M $25,000 to $50,0009M $50,000 to $75,0004M $75,000 to $100,0002M $100,000 to $150,0002M $150,000 to $200,0001M $200,000+1M Small student loan balances are common, with about 7 million people owing less than $5,000, with another 7 million falling into the $5,000–$10,000 range. The largest single group of borrowers—11 million people—owe between $10,000 and $25,000. Taken together, more than half of all federally managed borrowers, around 56%, have balances under $25,000. Beyond this middle tier, roughly 9 million people owe between $25,000 and $50,000, and 4 million owe between $50,000 and $75,000. Meanwhile, higher balances are less common but still significant, with 2 million borrowers carrying $75,000–$100,000, while another 2 million owe $100,000–$150,000. The Heavy Tail of Student Debt At the extreme end, a million Americans owe more than $200,000 in student debt. While these borrowers make up a small fraction of the total, the high balances highlight the financial strain of graduate and professional degrees. Overall, the number of student loan borrowers has risen steadily, from 39 million in 2016 to more than 45 million at the end of 2024. With repayment plans, forgiveness programs, and interest policy still under debate, student loans remain a complex challenge in America. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Growth of U.S. Consumer Debt on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Published 3 hours ago on October 3, 2025 By Jenna Ross Graphics & Design Sabrina Fortin Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Email Stablecoin Market Cap vs. the Value of U.S. Cash Key Takeaways Stablecoin market cap has climbed significantly in the last five years. As of August 2025, the value of stablecoins is now equivalent to about 11% of all U.S. cash in circulation. The future of money is being built on stablecoins, and it’s happening faster than you think. But just how big is the market capitalization of stablecoins?  Created in partnership with Plasma, this Stablecoin Week graphic compares the value of stablecoins to something everyone is familiar with: U.S. cash. Stablecoin Market Cap Over Time Over the last five years, stablecoins have evolved from a small part of cryptocurrency into a major asset redefining money movement. We’ve measured the stablecoin market cap relative to the value of all U.S. currency in circulation, which includes both paper bills and coins. While they are completely separate assets, the comparison helps gauge the size of the market relative to a traditional fiat currency.  DateStablecoin Market CapValue of Physical U.S. Cash in CirculationStablecoin Value Relative to Physical U.S. Cash in Circulation 2020-08-31$14,995,891,272$2,007,600,000,0001% 2020-09-30$18,730,672,205$2,027,500,000,0001% 2020-10-31$20,824,573,264$2,040,500,000,0001% 2020-11-30$23,366,206,575$2,058,300,000,0001% 2020-12-31$27,066,489,065$2,071,600,000,0001% 2021-01-31$36,107,404,706$2,094,200,000,0002% 2021-02-28$50,002,218,697$2,100,900,000,0002% 2021-03-31$61,034,354,590$2,117,800,000,0003% 2021-04-30$82,222,800,952$2,154,800,000,0004% 2021-05-31$102,278,169,046$2,169,500,000,0005% 2021-06-30$107,941,493,724$2,179,000,000,0005% 2021-07-31$112,426,597,033$2,186,300,000,0005% 2021-08-31$116,319,147,552$2,188,600,000,0005% 2021-09-30$125,977,923,956$2,195,600,000,0006% 2021-10-31$130,658,102,423$2,202,800,000,0006% 2021-11-30$142,357,761,292$2,214,100,000,0006% 2021-12-31$152,142,064,103$2,225,100,000,0007% 2022-01-31$160,382,030,244$2,232,700,000,0007% 2022-02-28$169,427,715,952$2,235,400,000,0008% 2022-03-31$169,179,128,131$2,259,600,000,0007% 2022-04-30$166,966,490,081$2,269,600,000,0007% 2022-05-31$162,353,272,006$2,273,500,000,0007% 2022-06-30$153,368,992,942$2,277,800,000,0007% 2022-07-31$152,835,454,244$2,278,300,000,0007% 2022-08-31$152,591,289,955$2,276,100,000,0007% 2022-09-30$149,794,327,663$2,279,700,000,0007% 2022-10-31$147,142,145,621$2,284,600,000,0006% 2022-11-30$143,802,031,584$2,293,100,000,0006% 2022-12-31$142,127,153,500$2,298,700,000,0006% 2023-01-31$139,228,507,019$2,299,100,000,0006% 2023-02-28$136,357,978,261$2,299,800,000,0006% 2023-03-31$132,683,654,126$2,313,100,000,0006% 2023-04-30$131,145,861,182$2,323,700,000,0006% 2023-05-31$129,778,342,105$2,334,000,000,0006% 2023-06-30$126,078,748,644$2,342,900,000,0005% 2023-07-31$124,471,885,870$2,339,100,000,0005% 2023-08-31$122,928,016,834$2,331,100,000,0005% 2023-09-30$121,544,474,931$2,327,600,000,0005% 2023-10-31$121,906,788,736$2,324,700,000,0005% 2023-11-30$126,408,535,893$2,327,900,000,0005% 2023-12-31$128,369,111,994$2,335,200,000,0005% 2024-01-31$135,591,618,738$2,336,300,000,0006% 2024-02-29$144,427,480,131$2,328,800,000,0006% 2024-03-31$152,838,157,862$2,339,400,000,0007% 2024-04-30$161,777,888,234$2,345,200,000,0007% 2024-05-31$162,575,379,043$2,348,500,000,0007% 2024-06-30$162,067,722,652$2,351,700,000,0007% 2024-07-31$165,136,487,249$2,351,200,000,0007% 2024-08-31$171,369,742,355$2,348,700,000,0007% 2024-09-30$173,528,046,070$2,351,200,000,0007% 2024-10-31$173,123,543,395$2,355,200,000,0007% 2024-11-30$193,251,176,330$2,359,400,000,0008% 2024-12-31$203,321,054,581$2,363,400,000,0009% 2025-01-31$215,411,867,785$2,358,300,000,0009% 2025-02-28$222,620,885,927$2,352,500,000,0009% 2025-03-31$228,706,619,101$2,366,900,000,00010% 2025-04-30$234,637,347,100$2,378,000,000,00010% 2025-05-31$238,864,697,313$2,385,600,000,00010% 2025-06-30$244,661,365,220$2,392,800,000,00010% 2025-07-31$256,459,140,209$2,399,900,000,00011% 2025-08-31$272,945,166,554$2,404,500,000,00011% Source: rwa.xyz, Federal Reserve In 2020, the value of stablecoins was equivalent to just 1% of all physical U.S. dollars. However, their market cap surged in 2021 alongside the broader crypto bull market. Stablecoins grew quickly because they are widely used as a parking spot for funds to move in and out of crypto trades. At the same time, issuers began investing their reserves in interest-earning assets, pocketing the profits on stablecoins that paid no yield. Meanwhile, smart contracts on blockchains gave stablecoin holders new ways to earn yield by lending, providing liquidity, or farming rewards. These opportunities made stablecoins even more popular. The stablecoin market cap temporarily dropped in 2022 and 2023 in response to a broader crypto crash and the collapse of TerraUSD (UST), an algorithmic stablecoin that lost its $1 peg. Since then, trust in stablecoins has been rebuilt through fiat-backed stablecoins with 1:1 liquid asset reserves, greater transparency requirements, and emerging regulatory frameworks. The Rise of Digital Dollars In 2024 and 2025, the value of stablecoins has been steadily climbing. In fact, the stablecoin market cap is equivalent to 11% of all physical U.S. cash in circulation as of August 2025. The growing popularity is being fueled by a number of factors: The broader crypto market has recovered, boosting stablecoin use in crypto trades. Adoption is growing as regulations provide clarity. Both consumers and businesses are using stablecoins to make payments, including cross-border payments that are much cheaper and faster with stablecoins. The industry continues to innovate, with the first interest-bearing stablecoin approved by the SEC in February 2025. Stablecoins are becoming increasingly integrated with traditional finance, with many financial institutions already offering or planning to explore stablecoin offerings. With the next era of money well underway, Plasma is building a foundational blockchain designed specifically for global stablecoin payments. 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See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization These 13 Countries Let You Buy Citizenship This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Citizenship by investment programs allow individuals to acquire a second passport by making significant financial contributions to a country’s economy. Minimum investment amounts and requirements differ significantly by country. Citizenship by investment programs give wealthy individuals the chance to secure a second passport by making significant financial contributions. The requirements vary by country, but these programs typically seek investments in businesses, development funds, or direct donations. In return, obtaining a second passport offers benefits like visa-free travel, tax advantages, or a backup plan in the event of political or economic turmoil. In this visualization, we break down the required contributions across 13 countries offering citizenship by investment, showing how much applicants need to spend to qualify. Data & Discussion The data for this visualization comes from Henley & Partners, highlighting the minimum contribution required by select countries offering citizenship by investment. Note that this is not an exhaustive list, and that many other countries have some form of investment migration legislation. CountryRequired Investment Contribution (USD) Nauru$130,000 Dominica$200,000 Antigua & Barbuda$230,000 North Macedonia$232,860 Grenada$235,000 St. Lucia$240,000 Egypt$250,000 St. Kitts & Nevis$250,000 Türkiye$400,000 Jordan$493,640 Montenegro$524,000 Malta$698,580 Austria"Substantial contribution" required The More Affordable Options At the lower end of the spectrum, Nauru offers a relatively cheaper program at about $130,000. The country’s passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to nearly 90 countries, though it lacks the broader travel privileges of Caribbean or European citizenship programs. Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, and St. Lucia are also affordable, requiring investments between $200,000 and $240,000. These Caribbean programs are popular for their cost-effectiveness and the travel flexibility they provide within the region. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of Dominica’s citizenship by investment program: Offers visa-free travel to over 140 destinations Ability to include a spouse, unmarried children under 31, and parents & grandparents aged 65 and older Citizenship by descent available for future generations To qualify for the program, applicants have the option of making a non-refundable contribution of $200,000 to Dominica’s Economic Development Fund (for a single applicant), or making a real estate purchase with a minimum value of $200,000. Mid-Tier Investment Thresholds Countries like Türkiye, Grenada, and Egypt fall in the middle range, with required contributions between $235,000 and $400,000. Launched in 2017, Türkiye’s program has become attractive due to its large real estate market and access to both European and Middle Eastern travel corridors. Applicants have many options to participate in the program, including, but not limited to: Acquire $400,000 worth of real estate Deposit at least $500,000 into a Turkish bank account Create jobs for at least 50 people, as attested by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services High-End Citizenship Programs At the top end, Malta and Montenegro require close to or more than $500,000, while Austria demands a “substantial contribution,” often exceeding several million. These higher thresholds reflect the perceived value of EU citizenship, which offers broad visa-free access, stability, and economic advantages. As of 2025, Austria’s passport is considered the fourth most powerful in the world. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Daily Cost of Traveling in Europe on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Most Underemployed College Degrees in America This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Five out of the top 10 most underemployed degrees among recent college graduates are in Humanities and Arts. Various science-related degrees also have high rates like Medical Technicians, Biology, and Animal and Plant Sciences. The average U.S. underemployment rate for new grads is 38.3%, indicating a potentially broken education and career system. Today, nursing grads have the lowest underemployment rate in the country at 9.7%. The underemployment rate provides nuance to the job market, reflecting the share of grads working jobs that typically do not require a degree. For perspective, across nearly 20 majors, underemployment rates exceed 50% this year. The above graphic shows the college majors with the highest underemployment rates in the U.S., using data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Underemployed in 2025: College Grads Face a Tough Job Market Below, we show the degrees with the highest underemployment rates for new grads: MajorUnderemployment Rate (%) Criminal Justice67.2 Performing Arts62.3 Medical Technicians57.9 Liberal Arts56.5 Anthropology55.9 Leisure and Hospitality54.5 Sociology54.4 General Social Sciences54.1 Public Policy and Law53.9 Fine Arts53.4 Animal and Plant Sciences53.2 General Business52.8 Communications52.3 Business Management51.3 History51.2 Foreign Language51.1 Political Science50.6 Environmental Studies49 English Language48.6 Interdisciplinary Studies48.4 Ethnic Studies47.7 Mass Media47.3 Art History46.9 Nutrition Sciences46.8 Biology45.6 Psychology45.4 Marketing44.8 Biochemistry44.4 Theology and Religion42.9 Health Services42.7 Agriculture42.4 Philosophy41.2 Chemistry40.6 Earth Sciences40.5 Engineering Technologies40.1 Family and Consumer Sciences39.8 Miscellaneous Physical Sciences39.7 Geography38.7 International Affairs38.5 Overall38.3 As we can see, Criminal Justice grads have the highest underemployment rates overall, at 67.2%. Among the primary reasons for this significant share is that jobs in law enforcement and private security typically don’t require a college degree. Going further, landing a job in the CIA or FBI is highly competitive, and typically require years of professional work experience. Performing Arts (63.2%) and Medical Technicians (57.9%) degrees rank next in line, following a similar trend. For instance, cardiovascular technicians typically only require an associate’s degree. Interestingly, General Business degrees have a 52.8% underemployment rate, far higher than Accounting (17.9%), Mathematics (24.3%), and Business Analytics (27.2%). This highlights how there is currently higher demand for specialized degrees in the finance industry. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the top universities outside of America.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Charted: The Journey to OpenAI’s Staggering $500B Valuation This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. OpenAI has hit a jaw-dropping $500B valuation after a major secondary share sale. The ChatGPT-maker’s valuation has skyrocketed since Microsoft’s initial $1B investment in 2019. OpenAI is now the most valuable private company in the world, ahead of SpaceX and ByteDance. In October 2025, OpenAI became the world’s most valuable private technology company. A major secondary share sale, enabling insiders to offload $6.6 billion worth of equity, valued the company at $500 billion, according to various media sources. That puts it ahead of SpaceX, Stripe, and ByteDance—and well past the $300 billion valuation assigned just seven months prior. The chart above, from Made Visual Daily, shows the company’s rapid valuation climb. The data for this valuation timeline was compiled from press reports and funding disclosures: DateApprox. Valuation (USD, billions)Context July 20191Microsoft partnership (cash + Azure credits) April 202114Reported / soft valuation January 202329Secondary tender offer February 202480–90Leak / soft internal valuation October 2024157Primary funding round (~$6.6B raise) March 2025300Primary funding round (~$40B raise, SoftBank-led) October 2025500Secondary share sale (~$6.6B employee shares) From Research Lab to AI Superpower OpenAI started as a nonprofit lab in 2015 with a $1 billion pledge from backers like Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman. In 2019, it restructured into a capped-profit entity and accepted a major investment from Microsoft—signaling a new era of commercialization. But the true inflection point came in late 2022, when the launch of ChatGPT brought generative AI into public consciousness. Since then, the company’s valuation curve has steepened dramatically: In early 2023, it was valued at $29 billion during an employee share sale. By March 2025, it was valued at $300 billion after raising a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank. Now, in October 2025, OpenAI’s valuation has reached $500 billion—even without raising new capital. This latest valuation was not set through a traditional venture round, but through a secondary sale that allowed employees and early investors to cash out. No new money entered the company. Instead, the new valuation reflects how much existing shares are now worth to investors hungry for exposure to AI’s leading player. What Justifies the $500 Billion Price Tag? There are a few reasons investors are backing OpenAI at this level. First, the company’s revenue growth is accelerating. It reportedly generated $4.3 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025, up from an estimated $1.6 billion for all of 2023. Some sources suggest its annual run rate could soon reach $20 billion. With high-margin software products, that kind of revenue scale supports significant valuation multiples. Second, OpenAI’s products are now deeply embedded across the tech ecosystem. Its language models power Microsoft’s Copilot products, drive usage through ChatGPT, and are licensed via APIs by thousands of companies. That network effect—combined with exclusive partnerships and strong brand recognition—makes its market position unusually defensible. Third, the company is building out massive infrastructure to support future growth. Through a new joint venture called Stargate LLC, OpenAI is reportedly planning to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on data centers and AI chips. The idea is to reduce reliance on Microsoft and establish a physical and technical moat that few competitors can match. Finally, the structure of this share sale matters. Because it’s a secondary transaction, OpenAI doesn’t dilute existing shareholders. Instead, insiders are getting liquidity, helping the company retain top AI talent while still appearing financially disciplined. Looking Ahead Of course, OpenAI’s rise hasn’t come without questions. The company faces increasing scrutiny from regulators, as well as growing competition from rivals like Anthropic and Google DeepMind. Its unique corporate structure—a capped-profit model governed by a nonprofit board—has also drawn criticism and confusion. Still, the momentum is undeniable. A few years ago, OpenAI was a curiosity. Today, it’s a foundational layer in global AI infrastructure. Its $500 billion valuation is a bet—not just on current revenue—but on a future where AI plays a role in nearly every product, process, and business. Learn More on the Voronoi App See all of the world’s most valuable private companies in one visualization, including the updated valuation for OpenAI.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The Top Countries Driving ChatGPT Traffic in 2025 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways The U.S. is ChatGPT’s largest market as of August 2025, powering 15.1% of website traffic. India follows next, with a 9.3% share, fueled by rapid adoption. In August, ChatGPT traffic hit 5.8 billion visits globally, more than 10 times higher than Google’s Gemini. Its expanding user base—with paying business users now totaling five million—puts annual recurring revenue at a projected $20 billion by year-end. In June, this figure stood at $10 billion, later rising to $13 billion in July. This graphic shows ChatGPT’s largest markets by country as of August 2025, based on data from Similarweb. Countries With the Highest Share of ChatGPT Traffic Below, we show ChatGPT traffic share by country: CountryTraffic Share Aug 2025Total Visits United States15.1%883M India9.3%544M Brazil5.3%310M United Kingdom4.3%251M Indonesia3.7%216M Japan3.5%205M Germany3.4%199M France3.2%187M Philippines3.0%175M Canada2.6%152M Visit numbers are extrapolated. With a 15.1% share of website visits in August, America takes the lead. Meanwhile, India stands as the second-largest market, it is also among the fastest-growing worldwide. Not only that, a separate survey found that 92% of office workers in India use AI regularly, notably higher than 64% in America. Following next in line is Brazil, with a 5.3% share. Like India, adoption is rapidly growing as Brazil has emerged as a regional leader in AI development. Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country, also stands as a leading source of ChatGPT website traffic. Recently, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Go in Indonesia, allowing users to pay $4.50 per month as part of a mid-tier subscription plan. Notably, after launching ChatGPT Go in India, the total number of users in the country doubled over the course of a month. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries that have banned ChatGPT.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization America’s Fastest Rising and Falling Housing Markets This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Austin, TX has seen the largest decline in home prices in the country since 2022, after a pandemic boom. Florida’s North Port and Cape Coral each have dropped 10%, hurt by rising insurance premiums and low demand. Rochester, NY is the hottest property market in America, with prices up 31% in three years, driven by stiff competition and affordable home prices. In 2025, housing demand is shifting toward the Eastern and Midwestern regions of the U.S., while softening across the South. Interestingly, this marks a reversal from pandemic-era patterns. In the South, housing inventory has risen 3.6% above pre-pandemic levels, driven by a wave of homebuilding activity. By contrast, the Northeast has seen inventory plunge 51%, fueling price growth. This graphic shows where home prices are rising and falling the fastest in America, based on data from Home Economics. Top 10 Fastest Rising Housing Markets Below, we show U.S. housing markets with the biggest price gains since August 2022: Fastest RisingMetro3-Year Home Price ChangeMedian Home Price 1Rochester, NY31%$286K 2Hartford, CT29%$404K 3Milwaukee, WI27%$363K 4New Haven, CT27%$404K 5Albany, NY26%$374K 6Newark, NJ26%$641K 7Camden, NJ25%$392K 8Buffalo, NY24%$300K 9New Brunswick, NJ24%$593K 10Bridgeport, CT24%$744K Given their relative affordability and proximity to major cities, markets in the Northeast—particularly in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey—have seen double-digit increases. Ranking first overall is Rochester, NY, rising 31%, where the median home price is just $286,000. Following next in line is Hartford, CT with 29% price gains, as out-of-state buyers have flocked to the market. Southern U.S. Markets Are Hurting the Most In contrast, Texas and Florida are facing the weakest housing markets in America. Fastest DecliningMetro3-Year Home Price ChangeMedian Home Price 1Austin, TX-12%$448K 2North Port, FL-10%$408K 3Cape Coral, FL-10%$358K 4Dallas, TX-4%$412K 5Lakeland, FL-4%$313K 6Deltona, FL-4%$344K 7Fort Worth, TX-4%$360K 8New Orleans, LA-3%$276K 9Oakland, CA-3%$906K 10San Antonio, TX-2%$318K While home prices in Austin boomed over the pandemic, they are now down 12% in three years. During the pandemic, home construction surged in Texas and Florida. But now, many of those homes sit empty. In Cape Coral, FL, sellers are cutting prices to attract buyers in a sluggish market. Out West, Oakland is the only metro among the top 10 for home price declines, with values falling 3% since August 2022. Even so, median prices remain high at $906,000—driven by the city’s relative affordability compared to San Francisco. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on U.S. cities with the highest cost of living.

Use This Visualization Stablecoins Now Transfer More Value Than Visa and Mastercard See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways Stablecoin transfer volume rose from just $3.3 billion in 2018 to $18.4 trillion in 2024, overtaking Visa at $15.7 trillion and Mastercard at $9.8 trillion. Visa’s annual transfer volume increased gradually from about $11.3 trillion in 2018 to $15.7 trillion in 2024, while Mastercard climbed from $5.9 trillion to $9.8 trillion over the same period. In just a few years, stablecoins have gone from niche cryptocurrency assets to major players in the global payments landscape. Once considered experimental, they now transfer more value annually than Visa and Mastercard, the two largest credit card and payments networks. This chart shows the annual transfer volumes of stablecoins, Visa, and Mastercard between 2018 and 2024, using data from Artemis Analytics along with financial updates from Visa and Mastercard. The Rise of Stablecoins’ Annual Transfer Volume Stablecoins have surged from just $3.3 billion in transfer volume in 2018 to $18.4 trillion in 2024. This represents one of the fastest adoption curves in financial history, which you can see compared to Visa and Mastercard’s annual transfer volumes in the data table below: YearStablecoins annual transfer volumeVISA annual transfer volumeMastercard annual transfer volume 2018$3,279,344,039$11,300,000,000,000$5,900,000,000,000 2019$177,385,343,798$11,600,000,000,000$6,458,000,000,000 2020$1,355,800,297,277$11,300,000,000,000$6,334,000,000,000 2021$8,119,984,437,078$13,000,000,000,000$7,725,000,000,000 2022$8,335,094,236,523$14,100,000,000,000$8,185,000,000,000 2023$7,644,470,860,158$14,800,000,000,000$9,022,000,000,000 2024$18,356,300,240,041$15,700,000,000,000$9,757,000,000,000 Unlike traditional card networks, stablecoins operate on public blockchains, allowing transfers to occur nearly instantly and without intermediaries. This has fueled their popularity for both crypto-native activity and cross-border payments. Stablecoins saw two significant surges in transfer volume since 2018. The first was between 2020 and 2021 when volumes rose nearly sixfold from $1.3 trillion to $8.1 trillion the following year The other surge was from 2023 to 2024, when volumes more than doubled from 2023’s $7.6 trillion to reach $18.4 trillion the following year. Visa and Mastercard: Slower Growth Visa and Mastercard have also grown steadily, but at a much slower pace. Visa rose from $11.3 trillion in 2018 to $15.7 trillion in 2024, while Mastercard increased from $5.9 trillion to $9.8 trillion over the same period. Their growth reflects the continued expansion of digital payments globally, but they are now being outpaced by blockchain-based alternatives. If trends continue, stablecoins could cement themselves as core infrastructure in global finance. Meanwhile, Visa and Mastercard are responding by exploring blockchain and stablecoin integrations to ensure they’re not left behind. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about where stablecoins stand in the overall crypto ecosystem, check out this graphic breaking down the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See more visualizations like this on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Internet Cost by Country in 2025 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways UAE has the world’s most expensive fixed internet at $4.31 per Mbps. Eastern Europe leads affordability, with Romania as low as $0.01 per Mbps. In a world more connected than ever, internet access has become essential infrastructure. But the price people pay for that access varies dramatically around the globe. This graphic compares the cost of fixed broadband internet per megabit per second (Mbps) across 60+ countries in 2025. The data for this visualization comes from We Are Social. The Most Expensive Internet: Gulf States and Sub-Saharan Africa At the top of the list, the United Arab Emirates stands out with an average cost of $4.31 per Mbps—nearly double that of the second-most expensive, Ghana ($2.58). These high prices are often due to limited competition, infrastructure challenges, and regulatory factors. Switzerland, Kenya, and Morocco also rank high on the list, all exceeding $1.00 per Mbps. RankCountryPrice (USD per Mbps) 1 U.A.E.$4.31 2 Ghana$2.58 3 Switzerland$2.07 4 Kenya$1.54 5 Morocco$1.16 6 Australia$1.05 7 Germany$1.04 8 Nigeria$0.72 9 Canada$0.66 10 Pakistan$0.53 11 South Africa$0.50 12 Indonesia$0.41 13 Hong Kong$0.39 14 UK$0.36 15 Bangladesh$0.36 16 Austria$0.36 17 Belgium$0.36 18 Greece$0.34 19 Denmark$0.30 20 Taiwan$0.28 21 Mexico$0.26 22 Saudi Arabia$0.24 23 Netherlands$0.22 24 Norway$0.21 25 Finland$0.20 26 Israel$0.19 27 Czechia$0.18 28 Egypt$0.17 29 Ireland$0.16 30 New Zealand$0.15 31 Serbia$0.14 32 Philippines$0.14 33 Sweden$0.14 34 Peru$0.12 35 Turkey$0.11 36 Portugal$0.10 37 Malaysia$0.09 38 Croatia$0.08 39 U.S.$0.08 40 Bulgaria$0.08 41 India$0.08 42 Brazil$0.06 43 France$0.06 44 Japan$0.06 45 Hungary$0.06 46 South Korea$0.05 47 China$0.05 48 Vietnam$0.04 49 Chile$0.03 50 Colombia$0.03 51 Poland$0.03 52 Argentina$0.03 53 Singapore$0.03 54 Russia$0.02 55 Thailand$0.02 56 Romania$0.01 Affordable Internet in Europe and Asia In stark contrast, countries like Romania ($0.01), Russia ($0.02), and Poland ($0.03) offer some of the cheapest broadband in the world. Eastern Europe consistently leads on affordability, likely due to robust competition and government investments in digital infrastructure. Asian nations such as Vietnam, China, and South Korea also deliver fast internet at low prices, some as little as $0.05 per Mbps. Where Does the U.S. Stand? The United States ranks among the more affordable countries, with internet priced at $0.08 per Mbps. Other Western economies like France, Japan, and Germany also fall below the global average of approximately $0.42 per Mbps. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: The iPhone Price Index in 2025 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Use This Visualization Ranked: The World’s Most Innovative Countries in 2025 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways This graphic maps the main results of the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, which captures the innovation ecosystem performance of 139 economies. China has entered the GII’s top 10 for the first time, while South Korea climbed to fourth (its highest position to date). Innovation is often viewed as the backbone of economic competitiveness. In this graphic, we’ve visualized the results of the annual Global Innovation Index (GII), which ranks countries on their ability to foster research and entrepreneurship. In our map, lower scores are shown as darker shades of blue, transitioning to green and then yellow as score increases. Data & Discussion The data for this visualization comes from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). GII RankEconomyScore 1 Switzerland66.0 2 Sweden62.6 3 U.S.61.7 4 South Korea60.0 5 Singapore59.9 6 UK59.1 7 Finland57.7 8 Netherlands57.0 9 Denmark56.9 10 China56.6 11 Germany55.5 12 Japan53.6 13 France53.4 14 Israel52.3 15 Hong Kong51.5 16 Estonia51.1 17 Canada51.1 18 Ireland50.4 19 Austria50.1 20 Norway49.2 21 Belgium48.5 22 Australia48.0 23 Luxembourg47.3 24 Iceland47.0 25 Cyprus45.5 26 New Zealand45.5 27 Malta45.4 28 Italy44.9 29 Spain44.6 30 UAE44.2 31 Portugal43.9 32 Czech Republic42.0 33 Lithuania40.8 34 Malaysia40.6 35 Slovenia40.1 36 Hungary40.0 37 Bulgaria39.1 38 India38.2 39 Poland37.7 40 Croatia37.7 41 Latvia37.5 42 Greece37.4 43 Türkiye37.2 44 Vietnam37.1 45 Thailand36.7 46 Saudi Arabia36.0 47 Slovakia35.5 48 Qatar34.6 49 Romania34.3 50 Philippines33.6 51 Chile33.1 52 Brazil32.9 53 Mauritius32.5 54 Serbia31.7 55 Indonesia31.3 56 Georgia31.2 57 Morocco31.1 58 Mexico30.5 59 Armenia30.5 60 Russia30.3 61 South Africa30.1 62 Bahrain30.0 63 North Macedonia29.8 64 Montenegro29.8 65 Jordan29.7 66 Ukraine29.7 67 Albania29.6 68 Uruguay28.8 69 Oman28.7 70 Iran28.5 71 Colombia28.5 72 Costa Rica28.4 73 Kuwait28.2 74 Moldova27.4 75 Seychelles27.2 76 Tunisia27.0 77 Argentina26.8 78 Mongolia26.7 79 Uzbekistan26.5 80 Peru26.5 81 Kazakhstan26.3 82 Panama25.9 83 Jamaica25.2 84 Barbados25.1 85 Belarus25.1 86 Egypt24.7 87 Botswana24.6 88 Brunei Darussalam24.5 89 Senegal23.8 90 Lebanon23.6 91 Namibia23.5 92 Bosnia and Herzegovina23.4 93 Sri Lanka22.9 94 Azerbaijan22.9 95 Cabo Verde22.6 96 Kyrgyzstan22.6 97 Dominican Republic22.6 98 El Salvador22.2 99 Pakistan22.1 100 Cambodia22.0 101 Ghana21.9 102 Kenya21.4 103 Paraguay21.4 104 Rwanda21.1 105 Nigeria21.1 106 Bangladesh21.0 107 Nepal20.2 108 Tajikistan20.2 109 Laos20.1 110 Côte d'Ivoire19.7 111 Bolivia19.6 112 Zambia19.6 113 Ecuador19.5 114 Trinidad and Tobago19.3 115 Algeria18.9 116 Cameroon18.2 117 Togo18.1 118 Benin17.8 119 Honduras17.7 120 Madagascar17.6 121 Tanzania17.5 122 Myanmar17.3 123 Guatemala17.1 124 Uganda17.1 125 Malawi16.0 126 Burkina Faso15.9 127 Burundi15.8 128 Mozambique15.4 129 Zimbabwe15.4 130 Nicaragua15.4 131 Mauritania15.4 132 Lesotho14.9 133 Guinea14.9 134 Ethiopia14.4 135 Mali14.0 136 Venezuela13.7 137 Congo13.6 138 Angola13.0 139 Niger11.9 The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 defines innovation broadly to not only include R&D-driven breakthroughs, but also incremental, non-R&D and frugal innovations. It measures this through two equally weighted sub-indices: Inputs (five pillars covering investment, human capital, infrastructure, and enabling conditions) and Outputs (two pillars covering knowledge & technology outputs, and creative outputs). The 2025 framework uses 78 indicators and reflects WIPO’s efforts to modernize measurement, integrate new data sources, and better capture today’s complex, distributed, and digital innovation ecosystems. Europe’s Longstanding Leadership European nations continue to rank as some of the world’s most innovative countries. Switzerland tops the index for the 15th consecutive year, while Sweden, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark land in the top 10. Switzerland ranks in the top 10 for all seven underlying pillars, but only claims first in “creative outputs”. America is the Third Most Innovative Country The U.S. retains third place in the GII for the third year in a row, ranking first in two underlying pillars: “market sophistication” and “business sophistication”. Where America falls behind is in “infrastructure”, ranking only 32nd in the world. The “infrastructure” pillar is composed of three indicators: Information and communication technologies (ranked 9th) General infrastructure (ranked 13th) Ecological sustainability (ranked 98th) Based on these scores and the methodology used by WIPO, ecological sustainability appears to be America’s weak point. This indicator considers energy efficiency, reliance on low-carbon energy, and the adoption of environmental management practices. Asia Climbs the Innovation Rankings The Asia region has showed strong momentum in the GII 2025, with South Korea reaching a record-high fourth place. The country took first place in the “human capital and research” pillar, and scores highly in various R&D metrics. China also entered the GII top 10 for the first time, making it the only middle-income economy within the top 30. According to WIPO estimates, China was the world’s biggest R&D spender and leads globally in patent filings. Learn More on the Voronoi App If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The iPhone Price Index on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app. Mapped: Africa’s Millionaire Population by Country in 2025 This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key Takeaways South Africa is the richest country on the continent, with 41,100 millionaires, 112 centi-millionaires ($100 million+ USD), and eight billionaires. The island nation of Mauritius has seen a 63% growth in its millionaire population over the past decade—the fastest overall. Similarly, Morocco has seen a significant jump of 40% to reach 7,500 millionaires in 2025, supported by rising foreign investment and export activity. With a net worth of $28 billion, Aliko Dengote is the richest person in Africa. Dengote is one of just eight billionaires on the continent, building his fortune through commodities such as cement and sugar. Beyond this small billionaire class, Africa is also home to an estimated 122,500 millionaires, a population bolstered by rising private consumption and growing foreign investment. This map shows Africa’s millionaire population by country in 2025, based on data from Henley & Partners. Where Africa’s Millionaire Population Resides Below, we show the number of millionaires in Africa. Countries such as Tunisia and DRC are not included due to insufficient data. CountryNumber of Millionaires(USD $1M+)Number of Centimillionaires(USD $100M+)Millionaire Growth2015-2025 South Africa41.1K112-6% Egypt14.8K49-15% Morocco7.5K3540% Nigeria7.2K20-47% Kenya6.8K1614% Mauritius4.8K1463% Algeria2.7K10-23% Ghana2.6K820% Namibia2.5K428% Ethiopia2.4K730% Angola2.3K6-36% Tanzania2.1K517% Cote d'Ivoire2.0K425% Botswana1.7K43% Uganda1.6K533% Rwanda1.0K348% Zambia1.0K35% Mozambique8002-11% Seychelles500635% Total122.5K348-5% Taking the lead is South Africa, which houses 41,100 millionaires and 112 centimillionaires. While millionaire growth across the country has shrunk 6% over the last decade, key hubs including the Whale Coast have seen a 50% surge. In particular, this hotspot has become a destination for holiday homes and weekend getaways. Egypt ranks in second, with 14,800 millionaires, although its millionaire population has declined 15% since 2015. By contrast, Morocco has one of the fastest-growing millionaire populations, rising 40% in the last 10 years. Further driving this surge are a thriving export industry, along with $40 billion in greenfield manufacturing investment in five years. Like Morocco, Mauritius and Rwanda have seen a surge in millionaire residents, up 63% and 48%, respectively over the decade. Learn More on the Voronoi App To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the true size of Africa.