Cryptocurrency payments are entering mainstream US commerce as rising customer demand drives more merchants to accept digital assets at checkout.
New research from the National Cryptocurrency Association and PayPal shows that 39% of merchants already accept crypto, while 84% expect it to become a standard payment method within five years.
Customer demand is driving adoption, with 88% of merchants receiving crypto payment enquiries and 69% reporting monthly interest from customers.
Many businesses view crypto as a tool for expansion, with 79% believing it can help attract new customers, while those already accepting crypto report rising transaction volumes and stronger engagement.
Large enterprises lead adoption, with half of firms earning over $500 million accepting crypto, compared with about one-third of smaller businesses. Among adopters, crypto accounts for 26% of sales, while 72% report annual growth, underscoring its shift toward a practical payment method.
Younger consumers are driving much of the momentum, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, while sectors such as hospitality, travel, digital goods, gaming, and e-commerce are seeing the fastest uptake.
Despite strong interest, simplicity remains a key barrier, as 90% of merchants say they would adopt crypto if setup and usage matched the ease of traditional card payments.
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UK banks are blocking or delaying close to 40% of payments to cryptocurrency exchanges, sharply increasing customer friction and slowing market growth, according to a new industry report.
Around 80% of surveyed exchanges reported rising payment disruptions, while 70% described the banking environment as increasingly hostile, discouraging investment, hiring, and product launches in the UK.
The survey of major platforms, including Coinbase, Kraken, and Gemini, reveals widespread and opaque restrictions across bank transfers and card payments. One exchange reported nearly £1 billion in declined transactions last year, citing unclear rejection reasons despite FCA registration.
Several high-street and digital banks maintain outright blocks, while others impose strict transaction caps. The UK Cryptoasset Business Council warned that blanket debanking practices could breach existing regulations, including those on payment services, consumer protection, and competition.
The council urged the FCA and government to enforce a risk-based approach, expand data sharing, and remove unnecessary barriers as the UK finalises its long-term crypto framework.
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A consortium of 10 central European banks has established a new company, Qivalis, to develop and issue a euro-pegged stablecoin, targeting a launch in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
The initiative seeks to offer a European alternative to US dollar-dominated digital payment systems and strengthen the region’s strategic autonomy in digital finance.
The participating banks include BNP Paribas, ING, UniCredit, KBC, Danske Bank, SEB, Caixabank, DekaBank, Banca Sella, and Raiffeisen Bank International, with BNP Paribas joining after the initial announcement.
Former Coinbase Germany chief executive Jan-Oliver Sell will lead Qivalis as CEO, while former NatWest chair Howard Davies has been appointed chair. The Amsterdam-based company plans to build a workforce of up to 50 employees over the next two years.
Initial use cases will focus on crypto trading, enabling fast, low-cost payments and settlements, with broader applications planned later. The project emerges as stablecoins grow rapidly, led by dollar-backed tokens, while limited € alternatives drive regulatory interest and ECB engagement.
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Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 2064, proposing a legal framework that allows businesses, state employees, and residents to receive payments in Bitcoin without designating it as legal tender.
The bill recognises Bitcoin as a financial instrument, aligning with constitutional limits while enabling its voluntary use across payroll, procurement, and private transactions.
Under the proposal, state employees could opt to receive wages in Bitcoin, US dollars, or a combination of both at the start of each pay period. Payments would be settled at prevailing market rates and deposited into either self-hosted wallets or approved custodial accounts.
Vendors contracting with the state could also choose Bitcoin on a per-transaction basis, while crypto-native firms would benefit from reduced regulatory friction.
The legislation instructs the State Treasurer to appoint a payment processor and develop operational rules, with contracts targeted for completion by early 2027.
If approved, the framework would take effect in November 2026, positioning Oklahoma among a small group of US states exploring direct Bitcoin integration into public finance, alongside initiatives already launched in Texas and New Hampshire.
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Binance has applied for a pan-European MiCA licence in Greece, positioning the country as a key regulatory gateway into the EU. The MiCA framework harmonises oversight across member states, enabling licensed firms to operate EU-wide under a single approval.
Contrary to expectations that Malta or Latvia would host the filing, the exchange selected Athens, where it has already established a holding company. The Hellenic Capital Market Commission is reportedly fast-tracking the review with support from leading accounting firms.
Company representatives said the MiCA regime offers legal clarity, regulatory certainty, and a framework that supports responsible innovation. Approval could lead to Binance expanding its corporate presence in Greece, including the opening of new offices and local staffing.
Regulatory urgency is intensifying as the July deadline approaches, particularly for firms operating across multiple EU jurisdictions. A successful application would strengthen Binance’s European strategy, expanding market access and reinforcing regulatory compliance.
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Hong Kong’s proposed crypto licensing overhaul has drawn criticism from industry leaders, who warn it could disrupt compliant firms and deter blockchain exposure.
Under the proposals, the existing allowance enabling firms to allocate up to 10% of fund assets to crypto without additional licensing would be removed. Even minimal exposure would require a full licence, a move the association called disproportionate and harmful to market experimentation.
Concerns also focused on the absence of transitional arrangements. Without a grace period, firms may be forced to suspend operations while licence applications are reviewed.
The association proposed a six- to 12-month transitional window to allow continued activity during regulatory processing.
Further criticism focused on custody rules restricting client assets to SFC-licensed custodians. Industry representatives warned the measure could limit access to early-stage tokens, restrict Web3 investment, and impose unnecessary geographic constraints.
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Indirect crypto securities holdings across Dutch households, institutions, and companies have expanded sharply over the past five years, according to central bank data. The increase reflects wider use of exchange-traded products linked to digital assets, while overall exposure remains limited.
Total indirect investments climbed from around €81 million at the end of 2020 to €1.2 billion by October 2025. Even with that increase, crypto-linked securities remain marginal, accounting for just 0.03% of overall securities holdings in the Netherlands.
Value growth has largely reflected rising prices of underlying crypto-assets rather than widespread new investment. Bitcoin, for example, recorded substantial gains before experiencing a sharp decline in late 2025, which influenced the valuation of related products.
Households hold the largest share of crypto ETFs and ETNs, while pension funds dominate crypto treasury shares. Holdings are highly concentrated, with seven foreign-issued securities accounting for roughly 70% of total Dutch indirect crypto exposure.
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Russia’s telecom watchdog is preparing to expand its use of AI to monitor and restrict access to prohibited online content, a move expected to affect parts of the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Roskomnadzor plans to invest more than 2 billion rubles in machine-learning tools designed to analyse internet traffic and improve enforcement against banned websites and VPN services. Blocking activity has already accelerated, with hundreds of VPNs and more than a million websites restricted during 2025.
Industry observers warn that stronger filtering could disrupt access to foreign-based crypto exchanges, mining pools, and information services. Major platforms are not currently blocked, but wider AI use is expected to accelerate detection of mirror sites and circumvention tools.
Regulatory changes under discussion could further reshape market access. Proposals would allow licensed domestic institutions to handle crypto transactions while imposing separate rules on specialised exchanges, potentially limiting the operations of foreign providers.
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South Korea has approved legislation establishing a legal framework for issuing and trading tokenised securities. Amendments recognise blockchain-based securities as legitimate, with rules taking effect in January 2027.
Eligible issuers can create tokenised debt and equity products using blockchain infrastructure, while brokerages and licensed intermediaries will facilitate trading.
Regulators aim to combine the efficiency of distributed ledgers with investor protections and expand the use of smart contracts, enabling previously restricted investments in real estate, art, or agriculture to reach a broader audience.
Implementation will be led by the Financial Services Commission, in collaboration with the Financial Supervisory Service, the Korea Securities Depository, and industry participants.
Consultation bodies will develop infrastructure such as ledger-based account management systems, while local firms, including Mirae Asset Securities and Hana Financial Group, are preparing platforms for the new rules.
Analysts project tokenised assets could reach $2 trillion globally by 2028, with South Korea’s market at $249 billion.
The legislation also complements South Korea’s efforts to regulate blockchain and curb cryptocurrency-related financial crime.
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MetaMask has launched native Tron support on mobile and in the browser, completing its integration with the Tron DAO, announced last August. The move strengthens MetaMask’s shift towards a fully multichain strategy beyond its Ethereum roots.
Tron-based assets, decentralised applications, staking, and USDT transfers can now be managed directly within MetaMask’s self-custody wallet. Users can swap assets across Tron, EVM chains, Solana, and Bitcoin without extra wallet software.
The integration connects MetaMask to Tron, one of the busiest stablecoin networks, with $21 billion in daily transfers and millions of active wallets. Tron’s strong presence in payments and decentralised finance adds further scale to MetaMask’s growing multichain offering.
Consensys, the developer behind MetaMask, has accelerated expansion beyond Ethereum as user activity increasingly spans multiple blockchain ecosystems. After adding Solana and Bitcoin, the integration with Tron further strengthens MetaMask as a cross-chain platform beyond Ethereum.
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