Activated by Default – No Setup Required Until now, Square’s Bitcoin feature was in testing or required manual opt-in. Starting today, it is enabled by default for all eligible U.S. merchants (with the notable exception of New York State due to regulatory reasons). Merchants do not need to install any extra hardware or third-party apps. They simply use their existing Square terminal or Point of Sale app. When a customer pays with Bitcoin via the Lightning Network (Bitcoin’s fast and low-cost second layer), the amount is automatically converted into U.S. dollars at the current market rate and deposited directly into the merchant’s account. By default, merchants receive dollars, eliminating any volatility risk. However, they can choose to receive part or all of the payment in Bitcoin if they prefer. Zero Processing Fees Through 2026 (Possibly 2027) To boost adoption, Square is offering zero processing fees on Bitcoin payments throughout 2026, with some reports suggesting the promotion may extend into 2027. This is a powerful incentive for the millions of small businesses already using Square — from coffee shops and restaurants to retail stores and independent artisans. The feature integrates seamlessly with Block’s ecosystem:

Cash App makes it easy for customers to pay with Bitcoin. A “Bitcoin Conversions” option allows merchants to automatically convert a percentage of their daily card sales into Bitcoin.

A Giant Step Toward Bitcoin as “Everyday Money” Jack Dorsey and the Block team (notably Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin Product) have long argued that Bitcoin should not only be a store of value but also a medium of exchange used in daily life. With this mass activation, millions of physical point-of-sale locations across the U.S. can now accept Bitcoin as easily as Visa or Mastercard. “We serve both sides of the counter: consumers through Cash App and merchants through Square. This puts us in a unique position to make Bitcoin everyday money,” Jack Dorsey stated in a previous shareholder letter. This initiative is part of Block’s broader “Bitcoin is everyday money” campaign, which also calls for tax reform (a de minimis exemption) so that small Bitcoin transactions are not burdened by complex capital gains reporting. Reactions and Implications The announcement quickly sparked excitement in the Bitcoin community on X (formerly Twitter). Many see it as a “parabolic” moment for adoption, with the number of U.S. businesses accepting Bitcoin potentially exploding overnight. For merchants, it offers the chance to expand their customer base — especially Bitcoin holders and Cash App users — with zero additional risk or cost. For customers, paying for coffee or groceries with Bitcoin has finally become fast, simple, and practical thanks to the Lightning Network. Some limitations remain: the rollout is limited to the United States (excluding New York), and businesses must have completed Square’s Know Your Business (KYB) verification process. Conclusion: Is Bitcoin Entering the Mainstream of Commerce? By automatically enabling Bitcoin payments for millions of businesses, Square and Jack Dorsey have taken a bold, symbolic, and highly practical step. This is no longer a niche experiment — it is a massive integration into America’s payment infrastructure. If successful, other major payment players may soon follow. Bitcoin, long viewed as “digital gold,” may gradually become digital money for everyday use.