DECTA, a payment‑technology provider, published a whitepaper revealing that UK merchants now list cryptocurrency payments as an emerging customer demand, while still prioritizing security and simplicity.
Survey Overview
The study surveyed 500 SME decision‑makers across the United Kingdom between March 13 and March 20, 2026, and was commissioned by research firm Censuswide. It found that 11.8 % of merchants believe their customers want the option to pay with cryptocurrency. Among firms with annual revenues between £50 million and £99.99 million, the perceived demand rises to 20.7 %.
Merchant Payment Priorities
When asked to rank payment attributes, merchants placed security at the top with 48.6 % of respondents citing it as the most important factor. Simplicity followed at 42.2 % and speed at 37.2 %, while cryptocurrency settled at the eighth position with an 11.8 % rating. The hierarchy also featured multiple payment options, refunds, guest checkout, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and open banking.
Interest by Business Size
Scott Dawson, DECTA’s chief executive officer and chairman of the Payments Innovation Forum, noted that alternative payment methods continue to gain traction among merchants. The report shows BNPL emerges as a priority for nearly 20 % of respondents, and that both open banking and cryptocurrency attract heightened interest from larger enterprises. This trend suggests that while crypto remains a niche choice overall, it holds growing relevance for high‑turnover businesses seeking diverse blockchain‑based solutions.