Crypto Acceptance Stagnates at 0.2% Online Amid Euro Area Survey

The European Central Bank (ECB) conducted a survey of 8,205 businesses across 21 euro area countries and found that only 0.2% of those that sell goods and services online accept cryptocurrency.

The survey, which was conducted by market research firm Ipsos between February 23 and April 10, 2026, also showed that cash remained the most widely accepted payment method at physical points of sale, with 92% acceptance. Card acceptance held steady at 88%, while mobile payments saw a significant increase, jumping to 68% from 36% in 2024.

The survey cited Bitcoin, Ether, and Tether's USDT as examples when asking merchants about crypto acceptance. Merchants were asked which payment methods they accepted, and consumer preference was the single largest factor at 26%, followed by security at 22%. The pattern held across all four industry sectors surveyed.

The ECB continues to work on a digital euro, a central bank digital currency designed to complement cash and preserve the euro's role as a payment instrument. A quarter of surveyed companies said they had already taken steps to promote digital payments, but crypto adoption remains stagnant at below 1% acceptance rate.