Crypto Payment Acceptance Remains Marginal in Euro Area

The European Central Bank (ECB) has found that crypto payment acceptance remains marginal among euro area firms, despite the region's expanding regulatory framework for digital assets. According to a survey of over 8,200 companies across all 21 euro area countries, only a small share of consumer-facing companies accept crypto-assets as a form of payment.

Among companies selling goods and services online, 0.2% reported accepting crypto-assets, including stablecoins. In contrast, 92% of companies that accept payments at physical locations accepted cash, while 88% accepted cards.

The ECB's findings highlight the limited adoption of crypto-assets as a payment method in Europe. The data also shows that mobile payment acceptance has increased from 36% in 2024 to 68% in 2026, indicating a broader expansion of digital payments using established instruments rather than crypto-assets.