Share this article
Survey: Europe's Online Shoppers Are Wary of Digital Currencies
European consumers are largely avoiding cryptocurrencies when making e-commerce payments, MasterCard finds.
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 1:12 p.m. Published Mar 29, 2017, 10:30 a.m.
European consumers are largely shunning digital currencies when making e-commerce payments, according to a recent survey commissioned by MasterCard.
The online survey polled just under 43,000 people between the ages of 18 and 64, from 23 different countries, who said they shop online. The results revealed that just 2% of respondents who make mobile payments for e-commerce said they use digital currencies, an amount mirrored when the group was asked about shopping online from a PC or laptop.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
The report also included data on overall interest in new payment types, with the survey focusing on a list that included digital currencies, banking apps, e-wallets and QR code scanning. Digital currencies ranked last, with 11% of respondents expressing interest.
MasterCard also reported that, based on the countries it surveyed, Spain was the top country for consumer interest in digital currency, followed by Croatia and Italy.
That the firm would seek input on the thinking of online spenders about digital currencies is perhaps unsurprising. Last November, the US Patent and Trademark Office published four patent applications submitted by MasterCard, which focused on integrating blockchain-based currencies into its systems.
Disclosure: MasterCard is an investor in CoinDesk's parent company, Digital Currency Group.
Shopping cart image via Shutterstock
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
U.S. jobs report, Ethereum upgrade: Crypto Week Ahead
Your look at what's coming in the week starting Jan. 5.
What to know:
You are reading Crypto Week Ahead: a comprehensive list of what's coming up in the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain in the coming days, as well as the major macroeconomic events that will influence digital asset markets. For an updated daily email reminder of what's expected, click here to sign up for Crypto Daybook Americas. You won't want to start your day without it.
Top Stories
