Euro Area Merchants Resist Cryptocurrency Adoption
The European Central Bank (ECB) has released a survey showing that only 0.2% of online merchants in the euro area accept cryptocurrency, underscoring the limited adoption of digital assets among businesses.
The survey, which interviewed 8,205 businesses across 21 euro area countries between February 23 and April 10, found that cash remains the most widely accepted payment method, with 92% of companies accepting it in 2026, up from 90% in 2024. Mobile payments recorded the largest shift, rising to 68% from 36% over the same period.
The survey also revealed that consumer preference was the leading factor when businesses decide which payment methods to support, cited by 26% of respondents, followed by security and ease of handling. Merchant attitudes towards cash vary widely across countries, with 51% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Cyprus saying they may stop accepting cash.