During the initial month of the OKX Card’s availability in Europe, holders primarily used their cryptocurrency for everyday essentials rather than luxury items. According to data from the exchange, grocery stores and supermarkets accounted for over a quarter of all transactions settled through the card between late January and late February 2026. Restaurants and fast food outlets made up an additional 18%, bringing the total food-related spending to 44% of all purchases.
The figures, which cover the top 20 merchant categories by transaction count, volume, or unique users, indicate a shift in how stablecoins are being spent. Instead of high-value purchases, the card was frequently used for routine expenses like groceries, takeaways, and small online orders. The data also includes details on country-specific spending patterns, such as French users making more bakery purchases, German users favoring online marketplaces, and Dutch users leading in supermarket spending. In Poland, a notable share of transactions occurred at convenience stores and fuel stations.
The OKX Card, launched in partnership with Mastercard and Nuvei, allows users to spend stablecoins at any location that accepts Mastercard, with automatic conversion at the point of sale. This integration aims to make crypto payments more mainstream by connecting digital balances to traditional card networks. Broader market trends support these findings, with earlier reports from Cex.io indicating that nearly half of all crypto card transactions in Europe are under 10 euros.
While the data only reflects early usage among OKX Card holders in the European Economic Area, it provides insight into how everyday crypto payments might evolve as infrastructure improves. The mix of spending categories suggests that stablecoin cards are increasingly being used for routine financial activities, which is considered a key test for their long-term adoption.