European Central Bank survey: recipient of encrypted payments less than 1 per cent for offline businesses in the euro area

A survey by the European Central Bank (ECB) shows that only 0.2 per cent of businesses selling goods and services online receive encrypted assets; the number of encrypted assets and stable currency at sub-line sale points is below 1 per cent in 2024 and 2026. The survey covered 8205 retail, catering, hotel and recreational enterprises in 21 countries in the euro area. Underline mobile payment acceptances rose from 36 per cent in 2024 to 68 per cent in 2026, cash acceptances from 90 per cent to 92 per cent, entity card acceptances from 87 per cent to 88 per cent, and bank cheque acceptances from 36 per cent to 27 per cent. Consumer preferences are the highest in the choice of payment methods in the enterprises interviewed, at 26 per cent, followed by safety at 22 per cent, and operational convenience at 15 per cent. Of the enterprises that did not accept cash, 36 per cent stated that client needs were inadequate, 35 per cent stated that access to cash was difficult and 29 per cent referred to security risks. (Cointelegraph)