It turns out that Bitcoin ($BTC) isn’t just for the tech bros anymore but also for businesses, hamburger lovers, and everyday spenders — aka, everyone.
Yesterday, Square, a payment platform by Block Inc., announced that it’ll soon enable businesses to accept $BTC and other crypto.
In other news, the popular American fast-food chain Steak ‘n’ Shake started accepting $BTC for payments two weeks ago.
And let’s not forget Best Wallet, a highly ranked secure crypto wallet that’ll soon launch its own crypto debit card.
Each of these developments highlights how $BTC is rapidly evolving from a speculative investment instrument to a practical currency built for real-world commerce.
Square Integrates Lightning for Low-Fee $BTC Payments
Square’s new hardware feature will enable merchants to accept cost-friendly and near-instant $BTC payments using the Lightning Network.
It began accepting $BTC payments at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas (May 27 – 29). However, a full rollout is expected by the end of the year as part of its plan to reach all eligible sellers by 2026.
This isn’t Square’s first $BTC rodeo. It launched a Bitcoin Conversions feature last year, allowing merchants to automatically convert a portion of their daily sales into $BTC.
Additionally, its Cash App already lets you buy, sell, and send $BTC easily, and its self-custody crypto wallet, Bitkey Wallet, also supports the OG coin.
It has also launched Proto, which consists of Bitcoin mining tools and services, and Spiral, which supports open-source projects that promote $BTC as a tool for economic empowerment.
Stake ‘n’ Shake’s $BTC Payments Half Processing Fees
Square isn’t the only one on a mission to put $BTC to work in the real world. Stake ‘n’ Shake now accepts $BTC payments, claiming they’re faster and cheaper than traditional credit card payments.
Dan Edwards, the fast food chain’s COO, says the company saves approximately 50% in processing fees when customers pay with $BTC as opposed to credit cards.
Following the new payment method’s early success, Stake ‘n’ Shake is now pondering other ways to embrace cutting-edge technology to modernize its food service. Ideas include cyber-chefs, robotaxis, and drones.
Best Wallet to Add a Crypto Debit Card
Best Wallet is also pushing to make crypto available for use in daily life, and will soon launch Best Card, its own crypto debit card.
It’ll let anyone spend their crypto holdings in Best Wallet seamlessly at brick-and-mortar retailers.
This multi-chain wallet supports the best crypto presales and is getting set to accommodate over 60 blockchains – you’ll find everything you need to know in our full Best Wallet review.
Once launched, you can use your Best Card to spend $BTC and other digital assets for everyday purchases – from coffee to cab rides – without the friction of exchanges or conversions.
What’s more, you can earn cashback on every purchase, plus enjoy lower transaction fees when holding $BEST, the ecosystem’s native token.
You can buy #BEST on presale for just $0.025095. Our $BEST price prediction foresees the coin reaching $0.072 after being listed on crypto exchanges, an increase of some 186% from today’s price, so it’s best to get in now.
$BTC Is No Longer a Store of Value But Everyday Cash
$BTC is no longer just a store of value, but increasingly a payment method for everyday life.
With Square enabling low-cost $BTC payments, Stake ‘n’ Shake slashing fees by accepting crypto at the counter, and Best Wallet preparing to launch a fully-fledged crypto card, the future is here.
These developments highlight how $BTC is being integrated into real-world commerce to cut costs and give you more financial freedom. Whether for buying a burger or growing an investment portfolio, $BTC is going mainstream.
But as always, do your research before making any crypto investments; this article is not financial advice.