European users of the OKX Card are turning to crypto for everyday purchases rather than luxury splurges, according to new data from OKX.
The figures, covering transactions across the European Economic Area (EEA) between January 28 and February 26, 2026, offer one of the clearest early snapshots of how stablecoin payment cards are being used in real-world settings.
New Money meets everyday payment culture.
From supermarkets to cafés, OKX Card data shows crypto is becoming part of how Europe pays.
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— OKX (@okx) May 6, 2026
Groceries and food dominate crypto spending
Supermarkets and grocery stores accounted for 26% of all OKX Card transactions, meaning more than one in four payments happened at checkout counters. Restaurants followed at 12%, while online marketplaces made up 13%.
When grouped, food-related spending, including groceries, restaurants, and fast food, represented a dominant 44% of total transactions. The pattern suggests that users are increasingly testing crypto cards for routine, low-value payments such as meals, takeaways, and small retail purchases.
This marks a notable shift from the earlier perception of crypto as a tool for large or speculative spending. Instead, the data points to stablecoins being used more like traditional fiat for day-to-day consumption. OKX noted that the dataset reflects typical spending behaviour while filtering out peer-to-peer transfers, reinforcing its focus on real merchant activity.
Local trends highlight diverse habits
Spending patterns varied significantly across countries. In France, bakery purchases accounted for 5% of transactions, more than double the EEA average. Germany leaned heavily into e-commerce, with 30% of transactions occurring on online marketplaces.
The Netherlands recorded the highest supermarket usage, with 37% of transactions tied to grocery stores, alongside a notable share spent on travel and accommodation. Meanwhile, Poland showed stronger in-person, small-ticket activity, including convenience store purchases and fuel payments.
The OKX Card, supported by partnerships with Mastercard, Nuvei, and Circle, enables users to spend stablecoins like USD Coin wherever traditional card networks are accepted. OKX also rolled out the OKX Card in Europe, allowing users to spend stablecoins directly at over 150 million Mastercard-accepting merchants globally. The card utilizes an on-chain self-custody design, meaning assets remain in the user’s private wallet until the exact moment of purchase.
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