Square Rolls Out Native Bitcoin Payments for Merchants Using Lightning Network

Square, the payment platform owned by Jack Dorsey’s Block (formerly known as Square), has officially launched its new “Bitcoin for Businesses” feature. This upgrade allows merchants to accept Bitcoin directly through their existing Square point-of-sale (POS) terminals. The feature began onboarding select merchants on July 22, 2025, with a full rollout expected to complete by 2026.

What Merchants and Customers Can Expect

With this integration, Square makes it simple for businesses to embrace Bitcoin payments without needing new equipment. Here’s what the feature offers:

• Direct Bitcoin acceptance: Customers can now pay with Bitcoin by scanning a QR code through Square’s POS app.
• Powered by the Lightning Network: Transactions are fast and inexpensive, solving previous issues like long wait times and high fees.
• Flexible settlement options: Merchants can choose to hold Bitcoin or instantly convert it into fiat currency to reduce exposure to price volatility.

Expanding Crypto’s Reach Through Everyday Payments

Block processed over $228 billion in payments from nearly 4 million merchants in 2024. By enabling Bitcoin acceptance across this vast network, the company is pushing crypto deeper into mainstream commerce.

Block’s broader Bitcoin ecosystem includes:

• Cash App’s Bitcoin trading services
• The Bitkey self-custody wallet
• Proto, its Bitcoin mining hardware division
• Spiral, an initiative funding open-source Bitcoin projects

The feature was first showcased during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas at the BTC Inc. merchandise store. The live demo highlighted how effortlessly the system works in real-world settings.

Miles Suter, Bitcoin Product Lead at Block, emphasized that the update gives merchants more control. “This is about economic empowerment,” he said. “Faster settlements mean businesses can keep more of what they earn.”

Key Considerations and Roadblocks

Despite its promise, the rollout comes with a few hurdles:

• Price volatility: While merchants can auto-convert Bitcoin to fiat, some may still be cautious about Bitcoin’s fluctuating value.
• Regulatory landscape: The feature’s expansion through 2026 depends on meeting legal requirements in different markets.
• Adoption curve: Uptake may vary based on merchant education, incentives, and customer demand.

Why This Move Matters

Square’s Bitcoin integration marks a shift in how digital currency is used:

• Everyday use case: Bitcoin moves from being just an investment to functioning as actual spending money.
• Business empowerment: Merchants gain more flexibility in how they handle payments.
• Crypto ecosystem growth: This development further strengthens Block’s position in the crypto infrastructure space.

Square’s move to embed Bitcoin into its POS systems could redefine how people think about and use digital currency. If the broader rollout succeeds, it could significantly accelerate Bitcoin’s transition from niche asset to everyday financial tool.