Crypto Payments Revolution: Bitcoin Set to Go Mainstream with Square’s 2026 Integration—Here’s What It Means
Crypto payments are on the verge of a breakthrough as Bitcoin is set to become a staple for nearly 4 million Square merchants by 2026. Announced during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, fintech giant Block, Inc.—the company founded by Jack Dorsey—unveiled that Square will soon enable direct Bitcoin transactions across its hardware ecosystem. This development signals a major stride towards crypto adoption in everyday finance, as mainstream businesses prepare to accept Bitcoin payments alongside traditional options.
The rollout is scheduled to start in late 2025, aiming for full deployment by 2026, subject to regulatory green lights. Square’s solution will leverage the Lightning Network, Bitcoin’s advanced layer-2 protocol, to process fast, low-fee transactions for both merchants and customers. Shoppers will simply need to scan a QR code, while Square’s backend will seamlessly handle real-time crypto-to-fiat conversions and instant settlement.
For sellers, flexibility is a key draw: they can opt to receive proceeds directly in Bitcoin or convert funds to fiat automatically at the point of sale. This upgrade expands on Square’s 2024 Bitcoin Conversion functionality that let businesses set aside a portion of daily sales in BTC—now, they can harness real peer-to-peer payments. For an in-depth beginner’s primer on getting started with crypto payments, check out our guide to cryptocurrency trading for beginners.
According to industry experts, this move is pivotal for Bitcoin’s evolution from a speculative store of value—its reputation for volatility notwithstanding—to an actual payment mechanism. Miles Suter, Product Lead for Bitcoin at Block, emphasized how this integration helps realize Bitcoin’s initial promise as a fast, fair, and decentralized payment system, especially for small businesses seeking more control over revenue flows and spending.
Square’s step is part of Block’s larger crypto push, which includes initiatives like their self-custody Bitcoin wallet and mining projects, aiming to make blockchain and digital assets more accessible in daily life. The company has already weathered challenges in 2024, including layoffs and compliance issues, yet continues to innovate in the payments ecosystem. Businesses interested in exploring further can review our comparison of the best crypto wallet options or investigate the growing world of DeFi and altcoins.
Jack Dorsey himself has frequently warned that Bitcoin must evolve or risk fading into irrelevance. By leading the charge for real-world adoption, Square is setting a precedent other payment providers may soon follow. If regulatory approvals move forward as expected, Bitcoin transactions could become an everyday option at millions of US retailers—potentially transforming the entire fintech and digital payments landscape.