Bitcoin was built to be spent, not just held. More cafes now accept it, and you can pay for your morning latte in seconds. Here are five ways to do it.
1. GoBTC Pay
GoBTC Pay, built by Bitcoin miner GoMining, lets you pay in Bitcoin on Bitcoin’s base layer, with GoMining’s mining infrastructure confirming the payment instead of a second network. Payments are free for the customer, and merchants pay a small fee that is lower than standard card processing. Any wallet, whether hardware, software or custodial, can connect to the network. This means you may be able to pay from the wallet you already use. A dedicated point-of-sale terminal and plugins for online stores are also on the way.
2. Stripe
Stripe powers checkout for millions of businesses. Its crypto support focuses mainly on stablecoins, and Bitcoin is available to merchants through apps in the Stripe App Marketplace. If your favorite coffee brand sells beans or subscriptions online through Stripe, check whether Bitcoin or crypto appears as a payment option at checkout.
3. Square
Square now accepts Bitcoin over the Lightning Network on its existing point-of-sale hardware. For eligible US sellers, this feature is turned on by default. At the counter, you pick Bitcoin, the terminal shows a QR code, and you scan it with any Lightning wallet. The payment confirms in seconds. Since many independent coffee shops already use Square, this may be the easiest option near you.
4. Strike
Strike is a Bitcoin app built on the Lightning Network. It works with Lightning QR codes, including the ones Square terminals display, so it is a simple way to pay at the register. You can keep a Bitcoin balance in the app and spend it whenever you like.
5. Cash App
Cash App lets you buy, hold and send Bitcoin, and it can pay Lightning invoices. Cash App and Square belong to the same company, so paying at a Square cafe with your Cash App Bitcoin balance is especially easy.
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