Only 0.2% of online companies operating in Europe accept cryptocurrencies or stablecoins as payment, according to a study by the European Central Bank (ECB).
The survey, conducted by Ipsos European Public Affairs from February 23 to April 10, 2026, included 8,205 businesses from all 21 eurozone countries. The sample covered retail, hospitality (restaurants and cafes), hotels, and the arts, entertainment, and leisure sectors.
Regarding traditional payment methods, payment cards are available at 82% of online sellers, and bank transfers at 74%. The cryptocurrency section of the survey was limited to three assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT.
Cash is accepted by 92% of companies (up from 90% in 2024), and cards by 88% (up from 87% the previous year). However, the most significant increase was in mobile payments, which surged from 36% to 68% in just two years, primarily through instant transfers and digital wallets.
The main criteria for choosing a payment method, according to participating firms, were:
- customer preferences (26%);
- security (22%);
- ease of processing (15%).
When comparing cash and digital payments, no parameter showed a clear advantage for electronic methods. Moreover, businesses rated cash higher in terms of privacy and reliability.
One in four companies in the eurozone reported actively promoting cashless payments over the past year: some purchased new cash registers, while others reduced the number of cash acceptance points. Additionally, 13% of businesses installed self-service terminals, with nearly half of these operating exclusively in cashless mode.
92% of companies currently accepting cash plan to continue doing so over the next five years. Exceptions include three countries: in Cyprus, half of small and medium-sized enterprises (51%) indicated a potential move away from cash, in Greece 23%, and in Bulgaria 18%.
The study comes as Europe prepares for the launch of the digital euro. The ECB is targeting 2029 as a potential debut for the CBDC, contingent on the necessary EU legislative framework.
In June, the relevant European Parliament committee supported a bill on CBDC. The document provides for online and offline payments, free basic services for users, and mandatory acceptance of the new form of money by most companies.
In July, the ECB selected banks to test the digital euro. The list includes Deutsche Bank, Revolut, Stripe, UniCredit, Adyen, SumUp, and Worldline.
