Crypto Cards Become Mainstream for Everyday Spending

Crypto cards have often been associated with luxury spending, but new data suggests this is not the case. In its 2026 report, OKX analyzed settled card transactions across the European Economic Area between January 28 and February 26, 2026. The results showed that everyday Europeans are using crypto for routine purchases like supermarket runs, restaurant meals, and fuel stops.

The data reveals that grocery stores and supermarkets accounted for 26% of all transactions, while restaurants accounted for 12%. Online marketplaces were used in 13% of transactions, with food-related spending making up a significant portion. This trend is consistent across Europe, with different countries showing unique preferences. For example, France had the highest proportion of bakery transactions at 5%, while Germany had a high proportion of e-commerce spend.

Stablecoins like USDT and USDC have been instrumental in driving growth in cross-border payments, allowing for near-instant crypto-to-fiat conversion at payment terminals. The report notes that this trend is not limited to Europe, but also seen in Latin America, Asia, and other regions. In fact, worldwide crypto card spending has reached an $18 billion annualized pace, with a 15x growth in under three years.