Crypto cards are beating traditional banks in Europe when it comes to small purchases, with 45% of crypto-linked card transactions under 10 euros ($11.7) \u2014 a category where cash has historically dominated.<\/p>\n
According to a report by CEX.IO shared with Cointelegraph, crypto card holders<\/a> are showing spending patterns that mirror traditional bank card users while embracing online payments at a faster pace.<\/p>\n The report noted a 15% rise in newly ordered CEX.IO crypto cards across Europe in 2025, signaling growing interest as more Europeans turn to digital assets for everyday payments.<\/p>\n Furthermore, while European Central Bank data<\/a> shows 21% of all card payments across the euro area are online, CEX.IO\u2019s figures reveal crypto card users already conduct 40% of their transactions on the internet \u2014 nearly double the average.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong><\/em>Kraken taps Mastercard to launch crypto debit cards in Europe, UK<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Spending patterns show crypto cardholders are using their cards for everyday spending. According to CEX.IO data, groceries make up 59% of purchases, near the ECB\u2019s 54% benchmark, while dining and bars account for 19%, above the average for in-person food and drink spending.<\/p>\n Notably, the average crypto card transaction sits at 23.7 euros ($27.8) compared to 33.6 euros ($39) for bank cards, based on Q1 2025 Mastercard data<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing in Europe is that crypto card users aren\u2019t just experimenting with new tech \u2014 they\u2019re showing us what everyday spending might look like in a truly cashless future,\u201d said Alexandr Kerya, vice president of Product Management at CEX.IO.<\/p>\n \u201cWith average card payment volume rising 24% in just the last month, this shift is clearly gaining momentum,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The data further shows that stablecoins power 73% of transactions, with other major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC<\/a>), Ether (ETH<\/a>), Litecoin (LTC<\/a>) and Solana (SOL<\/a>) also being used for groceries, dining and transportation.<\/p>\n The trend is consistent across other providers. For instance, Oobit reported<\/a> strong spending on everyday essentials among European users, while Crypto.com noted<\/a> similarly high volumes in online shopping transactions.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong><\/em>Floki, Mastercard launch 13-crypto debit card in Europe<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Despite the surge in crypto card adoption, Barclays has announced plans to ban crypto transactions<\/a> on its Barclaycard credit cards. The bank cited fears of customers falling into unmanageable debt due to crypto market volatility and highlighted the lack of investor protections in the sector.<\/p>\n Barclays explained that crypto asset purchases carry no recourse through the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if something goes wrong, leaving consumers exposed.<\/p>\nCrypto cards used for everyday spending<\/h2>\n
Barclays to block crypto purchases on credit cards<\/h2>\n