Cryptocurrency payment gateways in Europe: comparison and how to choose the best one (2026)
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If you are here, it is because you already know that accepting digital assets is not a fad, but a competitive necessity. In this article you will understand exactly how a crypto gateway works and you will compare the most powerful options in Europe, both local and international, so that you can decide with confidence whether what you need is a plugin for your ecommerce, a payment system by link or a physical solution with QR.
So that your choice is technical and not emotional, we will analyze critical criteria such as transaction fees, automatic settlement to euros, ease of integration, technical support and regulatory compliance within the EU framework. As a preview, I’ll give you a useful spoiler: in the current ecosystem there is no «best» universal gateway, the winning option is the one that fits like a glove to the processes and cash flow of your specific business model.
What is a crypto payment gateway (and why it is not just a wallet)
Accepting cryptocurrencies in your business does not simply consist of showing your wallet address and waiting for the money to arrive. If you do this, you will find yourself in accounting chaos: Who is this €200 payment from? Was it confirmed on time? How do I record this in my accounting if the price of Bitcoin changed ten minutes ago?
A crypto payment gateway is the professional tool that eliminates this friction. While a wallet is a simple purse to receive assets, the gateway is a complete management infrastructure that acts as an intelligent intermediary. Its function is to create the payment automatically, guide your customer during checkout, monitor the blockchain to confirm that the money has arrived and, most importantly, deliver the result ready for your balance sheet: either in crypto or settled directly in euros in your bank account.
Key differences: Control versus chaos
For a business, the difference between using a wallet and a professional gateway boils down to four pillars:
|
Characteristic |
Accepting payments with a wallet |
Using a payment gateway |
| Checkout Experience | The customer copies an address manually, risk of errors when entering the amount. | Dynamic QR code and clear interface. The amount is calculated exactly and instantly. |
| Volatility control | If Bitcoin falls during the transfer, you will receive less value than agreed. | Payment time limit. The price is frozen for a few minutes to secure the collection. |
| Sales reconciliation | You must check the block explorer manually to confirm each income. | Automatic notification. The system marks the order as «Paid» on your website or POS. |
| Euro (€) management | You receive crypto. If you want euros, you must send it to an exchange and sell it yourself. | Instant conversion. You can choose to receive euros directly into your bank account. |
| Usage profile | Ideal for occasional transfers between friends. | Designed to scale a business without operational or accounting friction. |
In short, the wallet is for the user, the gateway is for the entrepreneur seeking control, security and scalable operations.
The criteria that really matter
Not all gateways are the same. To avoid mistakes, use this «measuring stick» before integrating any solution:
|
Criterion |
What you should demand |
Why it is vital for your business |
| Real costs | Fixed fee (close to 1%) + low spread + clarity in withdrawal costs. | Prevents your sales profits from being diluted by hidden fees when converting to euros. |
| EU Compliance | VASP registration with the Bank and full alignment with MiCA Regulation. | Avoids bank blockages and guarantees that you work with a supervised entity. |
| Experience (UX) | Checkout, dynamic QR and real-time payment confirmation. | Reduces cart abandonment, if the process is complex, the customer does not complete the purchase. |
| Asset mix | Support for Bitcoin and Stablecoins. | Allows your customers to choose between using their crypto savings or paying with «digital dollars/euros». |
| Technical support | Human attention and easy-to-read API documentation. | If a payment fails on a Friday afternoon, you need an immediate solution, not an unanswered ticket. |
Compliance and operations in Europe/EU
Legal certainty guarantees the continuity of your business. With the full application of the MiCA Regulation and the DAC8 directive in this 2026, working with a provider with physical and legal presence in the EU is not optional, it is a protection:
- VASP Registration:The provider must be registered with the Bank.
- Transparency: Current platforms facilitate the traceability necessary to comply with money laundering prevention.
- Continuity: Operating under European regulations reduces the risk of your account being frozen due to sudden regulatory changes.
Very important, although these tools simplify management, crypto taxation has its nuances (VAT, Personal Income Tax, Model 721). Always consult your advisor to ensure that your accounting complies with current regulations.
Customer experience (UX): making payment not a puzzle
Cart abandonment is the biggest enemy. A good gateway must offer:
- Clear checkout:The customer must see the exact amount, the address and a dynamic QR code that their wallet recognizes instantly.
- Immediate confirmation: Nothing generates more anxiety than paying and not seeing a «Success» screen. The gateway must detect the payment in seconds.
- Payment window: A time limit to complete the transaction ensures that the exchange rate remains fair for both parties.
Supported cryptocurrencies and payment stability
You don’t need to accept 500 unknown tokens. The market is divided into two approaches:
- BTC + Stablecoins:It is the preferred option for merchants who want to avoid volatility. You charge in a stablecoin linked to the dollar or euro and the value does not change.
- Bitcoin only: For businesses with a very «maximalist» audience or who wish to keep their income in the strongest digital asset.
- Flexibility: Choose a gateway that allows you to activate or disable currencies based on your customers’ demand.
Integration and support: plugin, API and real help
The technical part defines how quickly you will start charging:
- Plugins (WooCommerce/PrestaShop):The «plug and play» solution. In less than an hour you can have the payment button active without touching code.
- Custom API: For businesses with complex payment flows or marketplaces that need a deep integration into their own interface.
- The human factor: Value support in your language with agile response times. If a payment gets stuck «in limbo», you need a real technical team on the other side, not just a generic help section.
Comparison: The leading options in Europe and the world
The choice of a cryptocurrency payment gateway directly impacts conversion, cash flow and business scalability. In 2026, companies look for solutions that offer:
- Broad cryptocurrency support, including stablecoins.
- Predictable transaction speed.
- Clear and competitive fees.
- Recurring paymentsfor subscriptions and memberships.
- Global processing without geographic restrictions.
- A reliable gateway allows you to accept crypto payments without rebuilding the entire existing financial infrastructure.
To offer a useful and objective comparison, we analyze each provider from the perspective of businesses operating in 2026. The goal was to identify which platform best responds to the real needs of growth, conversion and operational efficiency.
|
Gateway |
Main focus | Settlement in € | Support |
Highlighted integration |
| Bitnovo Pay | Omnichannel (Link, QR, Web) | Yes (Direct) | Spanish, English, French, Italian and Portuguese | Plugins and payment links |
| Bit2Me Commerce | Ecommerce and API | Yes | Spanish | Plugins (Woo/Presta) and API |
| Coinbase Commerce | Global «On-chain» | Optional | English | API and Global checkout |
| Binance Pay | User ecosystem | No direct to bank | Various | QR and App-to-App |
Bitnovo Pay: links, buttons and QR
Aimed at businesses seeking operational simplicity without technical complications. Bitnovo Pay allows you to accept cryptocurrencies in both online and physical environments by generating manual payment links, buttons for the web and dynamic QR codes. It is the ideal option for those who want to receive the value of their sales directly in euros in their bank account.
- Ideal for:Freelancers, physical stores and businesses that sell through social media.
- Resource: You can check their official product page and their API/Ecommerce connection guide.
Bit2Me Commerce: ecommerce focus
Its proposal focuses on offering a strong gateway for online stores, allowing crypto to be «one more currency» within the cash flow. It stands out for its ease of integration through specific plugins and an API designed to integrate into the existing checkout smoothly.
- Ideal for:Medium and large ecommerce that already operate in the market.
- Strength: Local support and regulatory compliance in Europe.
Coinbase Commerce (international): on-chain payments
It is the reference solution for businesses with a global and technologically advanced customer base. Its approach is to facilitate direct «on-chain» payments, allowing merchants to accept digital assets from any wallet in the world. Being an internationally reaching tool, it is perfect for digital businesses that are not limited to European borders.
- Ideal for:Global SaaS, international digital service sales and digital nomadism.
Binance Pay (international): merchant network
More than a traditional gateway, it functions as a closed ecosystem. Binance allows merchants to accept payments from its millions of users almost instantly. It is very useful if your target audience already uses this platform, although it requires the merchant to manage its operations within the exchange’s infrastructure.
- Ideal for:Businesses whose target audience is «crypto-native» and active Binance users.
Which one suits you? 4 decision scenarios
If you feel overwhelmed by the options, look for the scenario that best describes your current reality. The best gateway is not the one with the most features, but the one that removes a problem from your shoulders.
|
Your situation |
The business priority |
Recommended solution |
| You have an ecommerce (WooCommerce, PrestaShop) | You don’t want to touch code or waste hours configuring. | Bitnovo Pay or Bit2Me (for their «install and go» plugins) . |
| You sell through social media (WhatsApp, Instagram) | You need to get paid quickly without the customer entering a website. | Bitnovo Pay (for its ease of generating payment links) . |
| You have a physical store (Local shop, events, hospitality) | Visual, fast payments that do not interrupt the sale. | Bitnovo Pay (for its dynamic QR code system) . |
| You sell worldwide (SaaS, global services) | Unify payments from customers in any country and time zone. | Coinbase Commerce or Binance Pay . |
Implementation: Plugin or API?
Don’t let technology stop you. In 2026, integrating crypto payments is as simple as configuring any other payment method. The key is to choose the path that best fits your current infrastructure:
|
If your business… |
Your solution is… |
How it works |
| Uses WordPress, WooCommerce or PrestaShop. | PLUGIN | It’s «install and go». You download the module, activate it on your website and paste your API key. Without touching code. |
| Is custom software (SaaS) or a custom website. | API | Offers total flexibility. Your developer connects the gateway to your system for a 100% personalized design. |
| Sells through social media or a physical store. | CONTROL PANEL | You don’t install anything. You generate payment links or QR codes directly from your account and share them. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you still have doubts about the «day-to-day» of getting paid in crypto, this table summarizes the answers to the most common situations:
|
Question |
Answer |
| What is the best gateway in 2026? | There is no universal one, the best is the one that adapts to your flow (Plugins for web, QR for store or API for custom systems). |
| How does settlement in euros work? | The gateway processes the crypto payment and, if you configure it, converts the amount to euros instantly, sending them to your bank account. |
| What fees apply? | All apply a transaction fee (approx. 1%), which is usually more competitive than those of traditional payment methods. |
| What cryptocurrencies should I accept? | It is recommended to accept the most stable and well-known ones: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and stablecoins like USDT or EURC. |
| Can it be used in a physical store? | Yes. Through dynamic QR codes generated from a tablet or mobile, the customer pays from their own wallet in seconds. |
| Do I need technical knowledge? | No. If you use plugins or payment links, the configuration is 100% visual. You only need a developer if you use the API. |
| How do refunds work? | The merchant initiates the refund from their panel, the gateway returns the equivalent value in crypto to the customer’s wallet. |
| What should my tax advisor look at? | They must ensure that invoices are issued in euros and ensure compliance with regulations such as MiCA and DAC8. |
| What is the difference with a bank? | It offers immediate global payments, fewer geographic restrictions and eliminates the risk of unjustified chargebacks. |
To conclude, accepting cryptocurrencies in 2026 is no longer a technical experiment, it is a business decision. As we have seen, you don’t need the gateway with the most cryptocurrencies in the world, but the one that best integrates with your way of selling: whether through an automated plugin on your website, a QR on your counter or a quick link via WhatsApp.
Remember that the key to success lies in simplicity for the customer and legal security for you. If you operate in Europe and are looking for a local solution that allows you to generate links, buttons or QR with direct settlement to your bank, try Bitnovo Pay. It is the shortest way to professionalize your crypto collections today.
