Crypto Payments In The EU: A Report Reveals An Impressive Figure

The European Union is experiencing a discreet yet tenacious revolution. A recent report from Oobit, a platform specialized in crypto payments, reveals that 70% of crypto transactions on its network are absorbed by retail, food, and beverages. A figure that shatters the clichés about the marginal use of cryptocurrencies. But how can we explain this silent infiltration into the daily lives of Europeans? Between regulatory adoption and economic pragmatism, the landscape is reshaping.

The shopping basket 2.0: crypto enters daily life

Crypotcurrencies are no longer the privilege of traders or technology enthusiasts. According to Oobit, an average of $8.36 is spent per transaction in local shops, cafes, or supermarkets.

A detail that says a lot: crypto is becoming common currency for mundane purchases, far from high-risk speculation.

But behind these figures lies a paradox: while 92% of payments are made in USDT, a stablecoin pegged to the dollar, the EU’s MiCA regulation, effective by the end of 2024, imposes strict safeguards against non-European stablecoins. A tension between popular use and legal framework, where consumers seem to prefer practicality over technocratic debates.

In parallel, tourism is benefiting. 26% of transactions pertain to accommodation, travel, or aviation. A sector in search of borderless solutions, where crypto addresses a concrete need: to avoid exchange fees and banking delays. Evidence that adoption does not always stem from ideological enthusiasm, but often from a purely utilitarian logic.

The art of navigating financial fractures

The rise of cryptos in the EU is not just a trend. It is a response to tangible economic realities.

Micropayments, once stifled by prohibitive fees, are being reborn thanks to innovations such as Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. An advancement that enabled Nubank to equip 100 million Latin American customers by 2024 and foreshadows a global trend.

Crypto debit cards also play a key role. By offering “crypto-back” discounts, they transform the act of spending into an opportunity to save. A clever strategy to attract a skeptical audience, linking immediate consumption with future gain.

But the real engine remains stablecoins. Their market capitalization skyrocketed by 266% between 2021 and 2025, according to DefiLlama. Pegged to stable currencies, they are becoming a lifeline in countries with volatile local currencies. A phenomenon that the EU observes with ambivalence: while cryptos facilitate exchanges, they also challenge the hegemony of the euro.

Europe is navigating between innovation and caution. Oobit’s figures reveal organic adoption driven by concrete needs, far more than by decentralizing utopias. Governments know this: ignoring this tide would be naïve. This is a turning point in 2025, with the arrival of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).