Irish Consumers Amongst European Leaders in Digital Payment Adoption

Why It Matters

Ireland’s rapid shift to digital payments signals a fertile market for fintech innovation and positions the country as a testbed for the forthcoming digital euro, influencing European monetary policy and banking strategy.

Key Takeaways

• 73% Irish use contactless payments regularly
• Revolut holds 62% peer‑to‑peer market share
• 50‑58% report digital payment reliability issues
• 36% would adopt digital euro, 44% for online shopping
• Banks trusted for digital euro data handling

Pulse Analysis

Across Europe, cash is on a steady decline, but the pace varies dramatically by country. Ireland stands out, with cash usage dropping to 58% and a quarter of respondents pledging to quit cash entirely within a decade. This momentum is driven by high contactless penetration—73% of Irish shoppers use it routinely—paired with a tech‑savvy demographic that embraces mobile wallets and peer‑to‑peer platforms like Revolut, which commands a 62% share among respondents.

The digital euro, a central bank digital currency (CBDC) slated for future rollout, finds its most enthusiastic audience in Ireland. While the average European interest hovers around one‑in‑three, 36% of Irish consumers say they would use the digital euro, and 44% would adopt it for online shopping—the highest rate across the nine‑country survey. Cost‑free usage and 24/7 acceptance emerge as decisive factors, with nearly half of Irish respondents prioritising these attributes. Trust in traditional banks remains the cornerstone of adoption, as 41% of Europeans—and the highest proportion in Ireland—prefer their own bank to manage transaction data over tech giants.

For fintech firms and incumbent banks, Ireland represents a strategic launchpad for digital payment services and CBDC pilots. The combination of high digital adoption, openness to new payment forms, and strong institutional trust creates a conducive environment for innovative products, from instant settlement solutions to value‑added services built around the digital euro. Policymakers can also glean insights from Irish consumer expectations to shape regulatory frameworks that balance security, accessibility, and cost, ensuring the digital euro’s rollout aligns with market demand and accelerates Europe’s broader digital finance agenda.