Challenges of cryptocurrency landscape in Europe

Cryptocurrency is a form of digital money that uses blockchain technology to ensure its security, transparency, and decentralization. Cryptocurrency has been gaining popularity as a payment method in Europe, as it offers many advantages for both consumers and merchants, such as:

Lower fees: Cryptocurrency transactions do not involve intermediaries, such as banks or payment processors, that charge fees for their services. This reduces the cost of sending and receiving money, especially across borders.

Faster speed: Cryptocurrency transactions are processed by a network of computer nodes that verify and record them on a shared blockchain ledger. This eliminates manual verification and approval, which can take days or weeks for traditional payment methods. Cryptocurrency transactions can be completed in minutes or seconds, depending on the network congestion and the transaction fee.

Greater privacy: Cryptocurrency transactions do not require personal or financial information, such as name, address, or card number, to be shared with third parties. This protects the users from identity theft, fraud, or data breaches. Cryptocurrency transactions are also pseudonymous, meaning they are linked to a unique code, called an address, rather than a real identity.

More control: Cryptocurrency users have full ownership and control over their funds, as they are stored in a digital wallet, a software or hardware device that allows them to send and receive cryptocurrency. Users do not need to rely on third parties, such as banks or payment providers, to access or manage their money. Users can also choose the level of security and convenience for their wallet, such as using a password, a PIN, a fingerprint, or a recovery phrase.

However, cryptocurrency also faces some challenges and barriers that limit its adoption and growth as a payment method in Europe, such as:

Legal uncertainty: The rules and regulations regarding cryptocurrency vary from country to country in Europe, and sometimes even within the same country. Some countries, such as Germany, France, and Malta, have a more favorable and transparent legal framework for cryptocurrency. In contrast, others, such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, have a more restrictive and ambiguous one. This creates confusion and inconsistency for consumers and merchants, who may not know the legal status, tax implications, or consumer protection of cryptocurrency in their jurisdiction.

Technical complexity: Cryptocurrency requires certain technical knowledge and skills to use it safely and effectively. Users need to understand how to choose, set up, and secure their wallet, send and receive cryptocurrency, monitor and adjust the transaction fee, and deal with potential issues, such as network congestion, lost or stolen wallet, or forked blockchain. Users also need to be aware of the risks and challenges of using cryptocurrency, such as volatility, hacking, phishing, or scams.

Limited acceptance: Cryptocurrency is still not widely accepted as a payment method by most merchants in Europe, as they may face some obstacles and disadvantages, such as:

Lack of infrastructure and support: Many merchants do not have the infrastructure and support to accept cryptocurrency, such as a compatible point-of-sale device, a reliable internet connection, or a trustworthy payment processor. They may also face difficulties in converting cryptocurrency to fiat currency, or vice versa, and in accounting and reporting their cryptocurrency transactions.

Lack of incentives and demand: Many merchants do not see the need or benefit of accepting cryptocurrency, as they may not have enough customers who use or request it or may not want to deal with the additional costs and risks involved. They may also prefer to stick to the traditional payment methods that they are used to and that are more widely accepted and recognized.

These are some of the factors that influence the growth of cryptocurrency as a payment method in Europe and its main challenges. However, there are also some signs of progress and potential that indicate that cryptocurrency may become more mainstream and accessible in the future, such as:

Innovation and development: Cryptocurrency is constantly evolving and improving, as new technologies, platforms, and solutions are being created and implemented to enhance its performance, usability, and adoption. For example, some of the innovations and developments that are expected to have a positive impact on cryptocurrency are:

Layer 2 solutions: These are protocols that operate on top of the blockchain, and aim to increase its scalability, speed, and efficiency, by moving some of the transactions and computations off-chain and only using the blockchain for verification and settlement. Some examples of layer 2 solutions are Lightning Network, Plasma, and Raiden Network.

Stablecoins: These cryptocurrencies are pegged to a stable asset, such as a fiat currency, a commodity, or a basket of assets, and aim to reduce its volatility, risk, and complexity by maintaining a stable and predictable value. Some examples of stablecoins are Tether, USD Coin, and DAI.

Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs): These are digital currencies that are issued and regulated by a central bank and aim to complement or replace the existing fiat currency by providing a more efficient, secure, and inclusive payment system. Some examples of CBDCs that are being developed or tested are Digital Euro, Digital Yuan, and e-Krona.

Education and awareness: Cryptocurrency is becoming more accessible and understandable as more information and resources are being provided and shared to educate and inform the public about its benefits, risks, and opportunities. For example, some of the sources and channels that are contributing to the education and awareness of cryptocurrency are:

Media and social media: Cryptocurrency is gaining more exposure and attention as more media and social media platforms are covering and discussing its news, trends, and developments, and reaching a broader and more diverse audience. Some examples of media and social media platforms promoting and popularizing cryptocurrency are CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, and Twitter.

Courses and programs: Cryptocurrency is becoming more available and learnable as more courses and programs are being offered and delivered to teach and train the public about its concepts, principles, and practices and to provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to use it. Coursera, Udemy, and Blockchain Academy are examples of courses and programs that educate and empower the public about cryptocurrency.

Events and communities: Cryptocurrency is becoming more interactive and engaging, as more events and communities are being organized and hosted to connect and collaborate with the public about its challenges, solutions, and opportunities, and to provide them with the support and feedback to use it. Some examples of events and communities that are creating and fostering a cryptocurrency culture are Crypto Valley, Web Summit, and Meetup.

Antonio Palacio, Managing Director of Bitsa Card, said: “The cryptocurrency industry is growing fast in Europe and becoming a popular payment method. It's critical that consumers in the continent can understand how crypto works and why they are essential."

These are some of the trends and prospects that indicate that cryptocurrency may have a bright and promising future as a payment method in Europe and beyond. However, there are also some uncertainties and risks that may affect its growth and adoption, such as:

Regulation and compliance: Cryptocurrency is subject to various laws and regulations that may differ from country to country and may change over time, depending on the political, economic, and social context. These laws and regulations may positively or negatively impact cryptocurrency, as they may provide more clarity, security, and legitimacy, or they may impose more restrictions, limitations, and sanctions. Some examples of laws and regulations that may influence cryptocurrency are:

Anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) laws: These are laws that aim to prevent and combat the use of cryptocurrency for illegal or illicit purposes, such as money laundering, tax evasion, or terrorism financing, by requiring the identification and verification of the users, the reporting and monitoring of the transactions, and the cooperation and coordination of the authorities. Some examples of AML and CTF laws that apply to cryptocurrency are the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations.

Consumer protection and privacy laws: These are laws that aim to protect and empower the users of cryptocurrency by ensuring their rights, interests, and safety, such as the right to information, the right to redress, and the right to privacy, by requiring the disclosure and transparency of the terms and conditions, the provision and enforcement of the remedies and liabilities, and the respect and safeguard of the personal and financial data. Some examples of consumer protection and privacy laws that apply to cryptocurrency are the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Payment Services Directive (PSD2).

Competition and innovation: Cryptocurrency is subject to various forces and factors that may affect its performance and adoption, such as supply and demand, competition and innovation, and market sentiment and behavior. These forces and factors may positively or negatively impact cryptocurrency, as they may create more opportunities and advantages or pose more challenges and threats. Some examples of forces and factors that may influence cryptocurrency are: