Crypto payments barely register among euro area merchants, ECB finds
Reported by Cointelegraph · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
The European Central Bank (ECB) released a report finding that cryptocurrency payments remain a marginal option among euro area merchants. Only 0.2% of companies selling goods and services online accept crypto assets. Meanwhile, cash remains widely accepted, with 92% of businesses with physical points of sale accepting it. The report is based on a survey of 8,205 businesses across 21 euro area countries.
Why it matters
The ECB’s findings highlight the limited adoption of cryptocurrencies as a payment method among euro area merchants, despite growing acceptance of other digital payment forms like mobile payments. This matters as the ECB is developing a digital euro, aiming to complement cash and maintain the euro’s role, showing the preference for established payment methods over crypto.
Key context
The survey conducted by market research firm Ipsos covered a range of sectors, including retail, hospitality, and arts. Mobile payments acceptance jumped significantly to 68% in 2026 from 36% in 2024, mainly driven by options such as instant payments and digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay). Crypto acceptance remained below 1% at physical points of sale in both 2024 and 2026. The ECB report also notes that consumer preference, security, and ease of handling are key factors influencing payment method acceptance.
Key numbers and entities
The survey included 8,205 businesses from 21 euro area countries. Cash acceptance stood at 92%, mobile payments at 68% in 2026, physical card acceptance at 88%, and crypto asset acceptance at 0.2% among online merchants, remaining below 1% in physical stores. Examples of crypto cited were Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Tether’s USDt (USDT). The research covers payments data for 2024 and projections for 2026.
What remains unclear
The ECB report does not clarify whether merchants receiving crypto payments that are immediately converted to traditional currency count as accepting crypto. It also does not address how regulatory uncertainty may impact merchants’ reporting or acceptance of crypto payments. The ECB declined to comment further on these points, referring inquiries about the legality of crypto payments in the euro area to European Commission and national lawmakers.