How is commercial adoption of cryptocurrencies going?

How is commercial adoption of cryptocurrencies going?

The adoption of cryptocurrencies as a form of payment is experiencing remarkable growth across various industries. 

According to various reports, this year more and more companies have been integrating cryptocurrencies into their payment systems, transforming themselves with the innovation offered by these digital assets. 

The integration of cryptocurrencies into sectors such as e-commerce, tourism, services and education is modernizing the way consumers transact and is also opening up new opportunities for businesses, allowing them to stay competitive in an increasingly digitalized world.

The cryptocurrency payments revolution

In just 15 years, cryptocurrencies have gone from being unknown to popular, becoming part of the daily lives of millions of people around the world, thanks to the ease of access they offer to an alternative financial system without intermediaries. 

In 2022, the Traders of Crypto platform report, titled “Crypto Adoption Report”, noted that cryptocurrencies were still in their early stages of commercial adoption, even though interest and general acceptance of these digital assets have grown considerably. 

However, at present, data from the BTC Map platform indicates that There are about 12.200 shops that accept payments with cryptoassets, being the most popular bitcoin and ethereum, which are also the most capitalized cryptocurrencies in the market. Reports also point out that the list of crypto assets that are being accepted for payments continues to expand, demonstrating the validity and growing acceptance of these assets in the commercial sphere.

Number of commercial establishments that accept payments with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.
Number of commercial establishments that accept payments with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.
Source: BTC Map

Key sectors driving cryptocurrency adoption

In the report, Traders of Crypto provided a clear and detailed insight into the sectors and industries that are accepting cryptocurrency payments and are leading their global usage and adoption. The platform highlighted that The sector with the largest number of companies that accept cryptocurrencies as a means of payment is the travel sector

According to the report, about 11,5% of travel companies that participated in the survey revealed that they accept payments in cryptocurrencies. Some of the most notable ones were Expedia, which allows its users to pay for their hotel reservations with Bitcoin. Likewise, AirBaltic and Norwegian Air also said that they are accepting payments with these digital assets.

Number of companies accepting cryptocurrency payments by sector.
Number of companies accepting cryptocurrency payments by sector.
Source: Traders of Crypto

In second place are the e-commerce platforms, within 11,06% of these platforms accepting payments in cryptocurrencies. Nonprofit organizations and educational entities They follow in third and fourth place, using crypto assets to receive donations and pay tuition fees, respectively. In addition, in the educational sector, institutions such as Curtin University in Australia are also using cryptocurrencies to fund research grants for blockchain-related projects. 

Finally, cryptocurrencies have also found great acceptance as a means of payment in sectors such as sports and food service

The United States, the epicenter of crypto adoption

In terms of geographic location, the report highlighted that cryptocurrency adoption is dominated by United States, which is currently the country with the largest number of companies that accept these digital assets as means of payment. According to the data, 49,52% of the country's companies accept cryptocurrency payments

The platform indicated that the great acceptance that cryptocurrencies have in the country may be related, in large part, to the concentration of large technology brands and innovative companies that are willing to experiment with these new assets as a form of payment.

Ranking of countries by levels of adoption of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment.
Ranking of countries by levels of adoption of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment.
Source: Traders of Crypto

In second and third place are the United Kingdom y German, with 11,06% and 4,33% of businesses, respectively, accepting cryptocurrencies. These countries, which boast robust economies, are well positioned to lead cryptocurrency adoption in Europe.

The role of cryptocurrencies in trading

Cryptocurrencies have a lot to offer businesses. First, these digital assets allow businesses to attract a new segment of customers who prefer to use cryptocurrencies to make transactions. In addition, cryptocurrencies can reduce transaction costs associated with traditional payment methods, especially in international trade.

For all of the above, cryptocurrencies continue to gain acceptance as a valid and attractive form of payment, reflecting the digital transformation they are driving in the global economy. Although these digital assets were once appreciated more as instruments for trading, they have now become more embedded in everyday life, transforming the way people manage and use their money. 

As more businesses and consumers become familiar with cryptocurrencies, we are likely to see an increase in their acceptance in payments across a variety of sectors. Education and awareness about cryptocurrencies will play a crucial role in this process, helping to demystify their use and build trust among users.