The ECB has recorded stagnation of cryptocurrencies in eurozone online retail: only 0.2% of companies accept digital assets.
A large-scale study by the European Central Bank (ECB) paints a grim picture for supporters of crypto merchant adoption. According to my analysis of the regulator's fresh data, only 0.2% of internet companies operating in the eurozone are willing to accept bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins as payment. This is virtually zero, indicating a complete lack of organic demand for digital currencies in legitimate retail.
The sample, covering 8,205 enterprises from all 21 countries of the currency union, included retail trade, food service, hospitality, and entertainment. The survey was conducted from February 23 to April 10, 2026. For comparison: traditional payment instruments dominate—cards are available at 82% of online merchants, and bank transfers at 74%. The cryptocurrency portion of the questionnaire was limited to three assets: BTC, ETH, and USDT, making the result even more telling.
Cashless is growing, but not at the expense of crypto
Notably, in the offline segment, cash is still accepted by 92% of companies (up from 90% in 2024), and cards by 88%. However, the main trend is the explosive growth of mobile payments: their share doubled from 36% to 68% in just two years. These are instant transfers and digital wallets, which are effectively displacing any alternatives.
The key criteria for businesses choosing a payment tool are customer preferences (26%), security (22%), and ease of processing (15%). In a direct comparison of cash and digital methods, no single parameter emerged where electronic options were clearly superior. Moreover, in terms of privacy and reliability, entrepreneurs rank cash higher.
One in four companies reported actively promoting cashless payments: purchasing new registers and reducing cash acceptance points. 13% have installed self-service terminals, and nearly half of them operate exclusively in cashless mode. At the same time, 92% of firms that accept cash intend to maintain this practice over the next five years. Exceptions include Cyprus (51% of SMEs are willing to abandon cash), Greece (23%), and Bulgaria (18%).
The study comes ahead of the potential launch of the digital euro, which the ECB plans for 2029. The European Parliament's relevant committee has already supported the CBDC bill, and in July the regulator selected banks for testing—among them Deutsche Bank, Revolut, Stripe, UniCredit, Adyen, SumUp, and Worldline.
My conclusion: The 0.2% figure is not a coincidence but a natural outcome of the lack of infrastructure and clear regulation. Even with the upcoming MiCA, cryptocurrencies in Europe remain a niche investment tool rather than a medium of exchange. Until the ECB creates a convenient bridge between the digital euro and private stablecoins, talk of a breakthrough in payment integration is premature. The market is waiting not for technology but for simplicity and security—and here, classic fiat solutions remain unrivaled.