Jack Dorsey’s financial services company Block is set to let shops take bitcoin right at the cash register. It’s a new twist on how you pay, and it might change small businesses’ options. Bitcoin Payments On Square Hardware According to Block , starting in the second half of 2025, merchants using Square Point of Sale can accept bitcoin. The push rests on the Lightning Network, which handles payments in under a second and keeps fees low. At Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas from May 27–29, shoppers can try it out at the BTC Inc. merchandise store. A Two-Phase Rollout Based on reports, the first phase rolls out later this year. Then, subject to approvals, every eligible seller could be live by 2026. That means millions of Square users may add bitcoin to their checkouts alongside credit cards and cash. It’s a big step for a tool many small shops already use. Today: we’re accepting bitcoin payments at @TheBitcoinConf Soon: you can accept bitcoin payments wherever you are Details here: https://t.co/ko2S9hFpih pic.twitter.com/IYlYV6XM2S — Square (@Square) May 27, 2025 From Conversions To Checkout Block first let merchants convert part of their daily takings into bitcoin in 2024. Now they’ll take crypto up front. When a customer pays, Square’s app handles the exchange rate and confirmation. Stores see payouts faster. And customers who hold bitcoin get to use it without extra steps. Filling Out A Bitcoin Toolbox Block isn’t stopping at payments. Its Cash App has had bitcoin buy, sell, and send features for years. Then there’s Bitkey, launched in March 2024, a self-custody wallet without tricky seed phrases. Soon it will add stronger privacy and smarter recovery tools, including ways to pass funds on to heirs. There’s also Proto mining gear and Spiral, which backs bitcoin projects. Together, they cover buying, storing, spending, and even building with bitcoin. Merchants will still face price swings if they choose to hold bitcoin. But automatic conversions remain an option. And for those who do hold, using the Lightning Network can cut costs versus 2%–3% credit-card fees. Meanwhile, regulators will watch closely. Approvals may vary by region. But if all goes as planned, shoppers will see a new “bitcoin” button on Square screens in early 2026. It’s early days, but this looks like a real test of bitcoin’s original peer-to-peer idea. Some will welcome lower fees and fast settlement. Others will wait and see if it sticks. Either way, small shops soon have a fresh way to get paid. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
