ECB: 0.2% of euro-area firms accept crypto online

The European Central Bank’s Use of Cash survey, published in 2026, covered 8,205 companies across all euro-area countries and found 0.2% accepted cryptocurrencies or stablecoins for online purchases. At physical points of sale, 1% of companies accepted digital assets.

The report shows cash was accepted by 92% of firms with physical points of sale. Cards were accepted by 88% of in-person sellers. Mobile payments rose to 68% in 2026 from 36% in 2024.

The ECB warned that increased payment automation, including self-checkout terminals, could make it harder for customers to pay with cash and called for policy and operational choices to avoid restricting access to cash.

The survey noted some financial institutions and payment firms see operational benefits to digital assets, such as lower transaction fees and fewer intermediaries, but many have not deployed merchant-facing crypto payment systems. Despite the full implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, European payment processors have been slow to roll out crypto payment solutions.

Mark Aruliah, head of EMEA policy and regulatory affairs at blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, commented, “MiCA gives processors the confidence to develop compliant crypto payment options for the European market,” and added that certain limitations will need to be addressed over time.

The survey results show that most in-person and online transactions at euro-area businesses continue to rely on cash, cards and growing mobile payment services rather than cryptocurrencies.