Cash usage has declined across Europe, with only Germany and Austria maintaining consistently high levels. There is clear potential for the digital euro within Ireland, with nearly one in two people already considering using it for online shopping. Free usage is by far the most important criteria for the digital euro. Banks are regarded as trusted institutions for the digital euro.
Ireland, March 4, 2026 – The latest edition of the Europe-wide payment study conducted by the management and technology consultancy BearingPoint reveals that cash usage frequency across Europe has steadily declined over the past three years. The study, conducted across nine European countries with more than 10,000 respondents — including 1,001 in Ireland — highlights a fast-evolving Irish payments landscape characterised by strong digital adoption, growing openness to central bank digital currencies and continued trust in traditional banks.
The findings show Ireland significantly ahead of many European peers in digital payment behaviour:
- 73% of Irish consumers use contactless payments regularly, placing Ireland among Europe’s highest adopters.
- Revolut dominates peer to peer transfers, with 62% usage — one of the highest penetration rates across all surveyed countries.
- Despite Ireland’s strong digital payment shift, technical and reliability concerns remain widespread.
- Between 50% and 58% of Irish respondents report issues with digital payments, some of the highest rates observed in Europe.
Germany and Austria remain the strongholds of cash
Austria (71%) and Germany (73%) are significantly ahead of the other countries surveyed in the frequency of cash use. Switzerland follows in third place at 61%, with Ireland close behind at 58%. Perhaps more interestingly, however, Ireland stands out in terms of future behaviour: it records the highest proportion of respondents (24%) who say they will definitely move away from cash within the next 10 years.
As expected, the highest usage is found in the 55+ age group, with 80% in Germany and 84% in Austria. Remarkably, the typically digitally savvy age group of 18–24-year-olds also shows high usage rates, at 64% in Germany and 57% in Austria. In Northern Europe, cash usage is lowest: in the three Nordic countries, Sweden (25%), Denmark (32%), and Finland (42%), cash is being used less and less frequently. Within Ireland, cash usage frequency declined 61% to 58% over the three-year period.
Looking ahead, there is no indication of a shift away from cash, particularly in Germany and Austria: the majority of respondents in Germany (64%) cannot imagine abandoning cash within the next 10 years. This figure is surpassed only by Austria (68%). Even in countries with highly developed digital payment ecosystems, such as Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, around 40% of respondents do not expect cash to disappear within the next decade.
Digital euro: Familiar, but still with room to grow
While, on average across the surveyed countries, one in three respondents would use the digital euro, a larger group (42%) remains undecided, highlighting its untapped potential. In Austria, the digital euro would see the highest adoption, with around 40% indicating they would use it, followed by Ireland (36%), whereas the Netherlands has the lowest expected usage at 27%. In the Nordic countries, central bank digital currency (CBDC) would be used as a complement to cash by 21% in Denmark and 22% in Sweden, while in Switzerland (CBDC), the figure is significantly higher at 37%.
Ireland leads the way on digital euro use case adoption
On average across all surveyed countries and similar to last year, online shopping remains the preferred use case, with 37% indicating they would use the digital euro and 31% choosing CBDCs for this purpose. Ireland leads the way in the online shopping category, with 44% using the digital euro, followed by Finland (40%). Ireland also leads the way on instore shopping category (34%), followed by Germany at (30%) and for sending money to friends (33%) with Finland next (26%).
Cost-free usage remains by far the most important criterion for the digital euro
Across the surveyed countries, including Ireland, the key criteria for using the digital euro have once again remained consistent with last year’s results. Cost‑free usage (41%) and acceptance everywhere, 24/7 (35%), remain the most important factors for adopting the digital euro. In Ireland specifically, these figures are even stronger, with 49% of respondents highlighting cost‑free usage and 43% emphasising 24/7 acceptance the highest among all countries surveyed. Ireland also recorded the highest trust in the banking sector at 26%. By contrast, an outstanding user experience is a priority for only about one in five respondents overall.
Banks are the trusted institutions for the digital euro
Retail banks enjoy the highest level of trust when it comes to handling and storing transaction data – especially within the Eurozone. In countries planning to introduce the digital euro, trust in one’s own bank ranks highest at 41%, clearly surpassing trust in the ECB or other central banks. Only 4% of respondents would entrust their transaction data for digital euro/CBDC to technology providers such as Apple or Google. Banks, therefore, remain the central pillar of trust for the digital euro.
The survey shows that central bank digital currencies, such as the digital euro, have firmly entered everyday public discussion. Beyond its basic use as a payment function, further development appears to offer significant innovation potential. This could become an important contributor to the performance of the European economy and provide fresh impetus for growth.
Gillian O’Sullivan, Partner and Ireland Country lead
Ireland’s payments ecosystem is transforming at remarkable speed. Consumers here are digital first, enthusiastic adopters of contactless and mobile payments, and increasingly curious about innovations like the digital euro. At the same time, they expect strong reliability and robust data protection. Ireland’s leadership in expected digital euro usage for online shopping is particularly striking and reflects the country’s advanced digital commerce landscape.
Martin Deere, Head of Finance and Regulatory Consulting, BearingPoint Ireland
About the survey
The data used in this report is based on an online survey conducted between December 10 and 17, 2025, with a total of 10,123 participants from Austria (1,000), Switzerland (1,000), Germany (2,026), Denmark (1,023), Finland (1,009), France (1,052), Ireland (1,001), the Netherlands (1,003), and Sweden (1,009). The results were weighted and are representative of each country’s population aged 18 and older. The survey was designed by BearingPoint and conducted by the market research institute YouGov across the nine countries mentioned above. The results were analysed and consolidated by BearingPoint’s payments experts. BearingPoint has been conducting this survey regularly since 2019.
About BearingPoint
BearingPoint is an independent management and technology consultancy with European roots and a global reach that transforms businesses using technology intelligently. The firm operates across three core units: Consulting, Products, and Capital. Its Consulting services focus on selected areas, combining business and technology expertise with profound industry knowledge. The Products unit provides IP-driven solutions and managed services for business-critical processes. Capital delivers deal advisory and transaction services. In addition to its core operations, BearingPoint runs two joint ventures: Arcwide, a JV with IFS, which specialises in business transformation based on IFS technology, and BearingPoint North America, a JV with ABeam, which is dedicated to consulting excellence and business transformation built on SAP.
BearingPoint serves many of the world’s leading companies and organisations. Together with its strategic alliance partner ABeam Consulting, the firm brings together 15,000 professionals and supports clients in over 70 countries, delivering seamless business transformation with sustainable impact.
BearingPoint is recognised among TIME World’s Best Companies and Forbes World’s Best Employers. The firm is also a certified B Corporation, committed to responsible business and creating long-term value for organisations, people, and society.
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Madison DuffyMarketing ManagerIreland
