Cryptocurrencies in E-commerce: An Assessment of Their Integration into Online Shops, Shop Systems and Payment Service Providers

Abstract

The rapid digitalization of commerce has fundamentally transformed the landscape of payment systems. Cryptocurrencies, originally conceived as speculative investment as-sets, have gradually evolved into instruments considered for real-world transactions, especially in online retail. This study provides a systematic assessment of the integration of cryptocurrencies in e-commerce by focusing on three essential actor groups: online shops, shop-system providers, and payment service providers (PSPs). A systematic literature review following the PRISMA 2020 protocol was conducted across EBSCO, Scopus, and Google Scholar, supplemented by targeted desk research on prominent market players such as Newegg, Shopify, BitPay, PayPal, and Checkout.com. Quantitative adoption indicators from Chainalysis (2024), the European Central Bank (2024), and Capital One Shopping Research (2024) were incorporated to substantiate empirical observations. The results show that the use of cryptocurrencies as a payment method in e-commerce remains limited to technologically progressive and internationally active merchants. A conceptual Integration-Level Framework is proposed to explain adoption intensity as a function of technological readiness, regulatory maturity, and trust level among stakeholders. While cryptocurrencies promise efficiency, speed, and cross-border advantages, their broader diffusion is still constrained by volatility, heterogeneous regulation, and insufficient consumer trust. The paper concludes that long-term success will depend on regulatory stability—particularly the implementation of MiCA within the EU—alongside user education and improved usability.