Bitcoin Magazine

Cash App’s New Feature Lets People Pay with Bitcoin — Even If They Don’t Own Any

Cash App is making bitcoin more usable for everyday payments. Starting today, the app will let you pay with Bitcoin instantly — even if you don’t hold any — by automatically converting your USD balance on the app into bitcoin for the merchant.

In a series of app features announced today, the app will now spend bitcoin locally, pay in USD over the Lightning Network, and send or receive stablecoins. All these updates are part of Cash Releases, the platform’s first bundled launch of new features, the company shared with Bitcoin Magazine.

With the new ‘Bitcoin Payments with USD’ feature, users can make instant bitcoin payments even if they don’t hold BTC. Cash App will automatically convert USD from a user’s balance into bitcoin for the merchant.

In other words, this makes Bitcoin payments accessible to all 58 million monthly users of Cash App without taxable events or decreasing their Bitcoin holdings.

Square merchants benefit too, with no fees or chargebacks, and the network operates without middlemen. Users can choose any payment path — USD to USD, BTC to BTC, BTC to USD, or USD to BTC — all powered by the open Bitcoin network. It will encourage merchants to ask customers to pay in bitcoin to avoid card fees.

The system works wherever bitcoin is accepted, connecting millions more users to fast, low-cost, borderless payments.

Cash App’s bitcoin map

On top of this bitcoin payments feature, Cash App rolled out a Bitcoin Map. Following Square’s bitcoin payments launch, the map shows where local merchants accepting BTC are located, letting customers pay instantly via Lightning QR codes.

About 20% of Americans are open to using bitcoin for daily transactions, the company said, and Cash App wants to make that transition seamless for both consumers and businesses.

In addition to all this, Cash App is introducing stablecoin support. In the coming months, Customers can now send and receive digital dollars globally. 

Stablecoins maintain a one-to-one value with the U.S. dollar while enabling near-instant transfers. Cash App will automatically convert received stablecoins into USD.

“Bitcoin was created to be peer-to-peer cash, and Cash App is building tools to make it work as intended — fast, open, and borderless,” said Miles Suter, Bitcoin Product Lead at Block.

When asked about stablecoins and whether they might compete with Bitcoin, Suter told Bitcoin Magazine that “legacy fiat systems are Money 1.0: slow, expensive, closed systems with banking hours and borders. Bitcoin is Money 2.0, the ultimate goal: truly decentralized, open, and permissionless. Stablecoins are Money 1.5, a pragmatic tool and a meaningful improvement from traditional financial rails, but we don’t see them as a competitor to bitcoin.”

He described stablecoins as a complementary tool for users, offering speed and stability while bitcoin remains the platform’s foundation.

Cash App will also enhance their Auto Invest feature, the company said. Scheduled bitcoin purchases now carry no fees or spreads, making it easier and more affordable for users to invest regularly. 

“Standard one-time purchases have fees and spreads,” Suter said, “but we’ve built an entire ecosystem of ways to stack sats for free, like Auto Invest, Paid In Bitcoin, and Round Ups. The goal is giving customers multiple options to build their bitcoin position affordably.”

Since 2018, Cash App has helped over 24 million active users buy bitcoin, with features like Paid In Bitcoin enabling automated conversion of direct deposits into BTC.

Bitcoin payments via Square

Earlier this week, Square rolled out Bitcoin payments for U.S. sellers, allowing roughly 4 million merchants to accept BTC through their terminals with no processing fees until 2027. 

The system enabled instant transactions via the Lightning Network, first piloted at Compass Coffee in Washington, D.C. Merchants could receive Bitcoin, convert it to USD, or automatically convert part of daily sales into BTC. 

When asked about criticism that platforms like Square or Cash App might be centralizing Bitcoin, Suter said, “If you want access to the fiat banking system today, you need a centralized provider. The end goal is self-custody, which is why we built Bitkey. We’re building auto-sweeps to self-custody that will roll out later, and deep Bitkey integration with Square is coming in 2026 for self-custody of funds you receive as payments or convert from daily card sales.”

Jack Dorsey’s Block Inc., formerly known as Square, has evolved into a full-stack Bitcoin company spanning payments, mining, open-source software, and self-custody solutions. 

Through subsidiaries like Cash App, Bitkey, Proto, Spiral, and Tidal, Block is driving Bitcoin adoption across both consumer and developer ecosystems. 

The company holds over 8,780 BTC and continues to deepen its integration with Bitcoin, aligning its business strategy with the network’s long-term growth. 

According to Suter, the company envisions Bitcoin becoming everyday money and a universal financial infrastructure enabling truly global commerce.

This post Cash App’s New Feature Lets People Pay with Bitcoin — Even If They Don’t Own Any first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Square Bitcoin Payments Go Live Today, Bringing Bitcoin to Millions of Merchants

Bitcoin just took another major step toward mainstream adoption. Starting today, Square sellers across the United States can officially accept Bitcoin payments directly through their terminals — with no processing fees until 2027.

The launch marks one of the most significant integrations of Bitcoin into everyday commerce to date. Square, the popular payments processor and business platform owned by Block, says roughly 4 million vendors now have access to Bitcoin payments, automatic conversions, and built-in wallets — all inside the same dashboard they already use to manage their sales and banking.

“You can expand your customer base by accepting bitcoin payments and automatically receive them as BTC or USD,” the company said in its launch statement. “Plus, get zero processing fees until 2027, no chargebacks, and instant access.”

“Our sellers can now receive btc to btc, btc to fiat, fiat to btc, or fiat to fiat,” said Jack Dorsey, Chairman of Square.

The feature first debuted last month at Compass Coffee in Washington, D.C., where a customer purchased a latte with Bitcoin during DC Fintech Week. 

That pilot — the first-ever Bitcoin payment processed on a Square terminal — demonstrated instant transactions using the Lightning Network. Square says the technology will now roll out nationwide, except in New York, where regulatory hurdles remain.

JUST IN: Over 4 million Square merchants can now accept #Bitcoin at checkout, starting today.

Bullish
pic.twitter.com/wkSplLhVs7

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) November 10, 2025

Simple bitcoin payments with Square

The new system is designed to be simple. Merchants can accept Bitcoin payments via QR code, hold the funds in Bitcoin, or instantly convert them to U.S. dollars. Businesses can also choose to automatically convert up to 50% of their daily sales into Bitcoin — a move Square says will help small businesses diversify savings and hedge against inflation.

According to an internal survey, about 29% of sellers are exploring Bitcoin conversions for business savings, and 89% of interested merchants plan to use Bitcoin as a long-term treasury asset.

“We’re making Bitcoin payments as seamless as card payments,” said Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin at Block. “Through Square and Cash App, we’re helping Bitcoin become everyday money — not just a store of value.”

Merchants using Square’s free, Plus, or Premium plans can access Bitcoin features starting today. While Bitcoin conversions carry a small fee, payments themselves remain free for the first year.

For small businesses, Square Bitcoin could mean lower costs and faster settlement compared to card networks, which typically take several days and charge processing fees. For Bitcoin, it signals a powerful step toward becoming usable money — not just digital gold.

As the feature goes live, millions of small businesses — from barbershops to breweries — could soon be adding a new sign next to “Visa” and “Mastercard.”

Now, it will read: “Bitcoin Accepted Here.”

This post Square Bitcoin Payments Go Live Today, Bringing Bitcoin to Millions of Merchants first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Steak ’n Shake Launches First-Ever Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Steak ’n Shake is making history as the first major restaurant to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. 

All payments received in Bitcoin will now be added to their Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), marking a fun and major step into bitcoin adoption for the fast-food chain.

As part of the initiative, the company will donate 210 sats from every Bitcoin Meal sold to the Open Sats Initiative, Inc. over the next 12 months. 

Customers who purchase and register their Bitcoin Steakburger through the Fold App will also receive $5 in free Bitcoin, with instructions provided on their receipts.

The move comes on the heels of a strong quarter, with same-store sales up 15% — outpacing all competitors — highlighting the growing impact of cryptocurrency engagement on the restaurant’s bottom line.

JUST IN: Fast food giant Steak 'n Shake announces its created a Strategic #Bitcoin Reserve

They're also donating to open source bitcoin development pic.twitter.com/Mod3XDfMX8

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 31, 2025

Steak ‘n Shake partners with Fold

Earlier today, the company and Fold Holdings launched a limited-time promotion at more than 1,200 Steak ’n Shake locations, letting customers earn $5 in bitcoin with their Bitcoin Meal or Bitcoin Steakburger.

Diners simply upload their receipt to bitcoinmealdeal.com, redeem a code through the Fold app, and instantly receive their reward. 

The promotion marks the first U.S. restaurant menu item tied to bitcoin rewards, with the Bitcoin logo even stamped on the burger bun as a nod to mainstream adoption. 

The campaign coincides with the 17th anniversary of the Bitcoin white paper and builds on Steak ’n Shake’s earlier adoption of Lightning Network payments. 

Fold, which holds roughly 1,500 BTC, continues expanding its bitcoin rewards ecosystem.

Bitcoin improving payment speed

At the Bitcoin 2025 Conference, Steak ‘n Shake executive Dan Edwards highlighted the company’s global adoption of Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network. 

He noted that Bitcoin transactions immediately exceeded expectations, with one in every 500 global Bitcoin transactions occurring at Steak ‘n Shake on launch day

Edwards said that accepting Bitcoin reduced processing fees by 50%, benefiting both the company and customers. 

He stressed that the initiative was a genuine payment upgrade, not a marketing stunt, and reported that customer behavior had shifted positively since implementation. 

Steak ‘n Shake reported that customer behavior has already shifted. “We’ve seen a sustained spike since adding Bitcoin,” Edwards noted. 

Edwards also teased the company’s future plans, calling for more technical talent. “We’re not done. We’re investing in cyber chefs, autonomous drives, AI tech — and we need engineers to help us build it.” 

This post Steak ’n Shake Launches First-Ever Strategic Bitcoin Reserve first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Steak ’n Shake Partners With Fold to Launch $5 Bitcoin Burger Reward

Fold Holdings (NASDAQ: FLD), the bitcoin rewards company known for letting users earn sats on everyday purchases, has teamed up with iconic fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake for a limited-time promotion that lets customers earn $5 in bitcoin with their meal.

Starting today, Steak ’n Shake diners who order a Bitcoin Meal or Bitcoin Steakburger at one of the 1,200+ participating Steak ’n Shake locations can visit bitcoinmealdeal.com, upload their receipt, and receive a code redeemable for $5 in bitcoin through the Fold app. 

Once the Fold app is downloaded and activated, the reward is instantly credited. The partnership marks the first time a U.S. restaurant chain has paired a menu item with bitcoin rewards, blending food, finance, and pop culture in a single bite.

Even the bun carries a message: it’s stamped with a Bitcoin logo, a subtle but unmistakable symbol of how far the orange coin has traveled into mainstream consciousness.

“Bitcoin goes mainstream when it starts showing up in everyday life,” said Fold Chairman and CEO Will Reeves in a note to Bitcoin Magazine. “That’s been our vision from the beginning, and our promotion with Steak ’n Shake is the next step in that journey. For many people, this will be the first time they ever own bitcoin — and it’ll come from something as ordinary as grabbing a burger.”

Steak ‘n Shake loves bitcoin

For Steak ’n Shake, the partnership deepens its ongoing relationship with the Bitcoin community. 

Earlier this year, the 90-year-old chain rolled out Lightning Network payments across all U.S. locations, allowing customers to pay for meals using bitcoin with instant, low-fee transactions. 

The company even sparked headlines when it publicly scrapped plans to accept Ethereum, declaring its “allegiance” to Bitcoiners.

Now, it’s taking that loyalty a step further.

“Steak ’n Shake has never been afraid to take a bold position, and putting bitcoin on the menu is the latest example,” said Sardar Biglari, CEO of Steak ’n Shake. “Bitcoin is rewriting the rules of culture and commerce, and we want our guests to be part of that future every time they sit down for a meal.”

Fold, which went public earlier this year through a SPAC merger, currently holds roughly 1,500 BTC in its corporate treasury — valued near $160 million — and maintains a market cap just under $200 million. 

The company recently launched a bitcoin rewards Visa card powered by Stripe and continues to expand its product suite bridging traditional finance and Bitcoin-native tools.

The campaign — launching today, a date that coincidentally marks the 17th anniversary of the Bitcoin white paper — runs nationwide while supplies last. For both companies, it’s a symbolic nod to Bitcoin’s evolution from white paper to burger wrapper.

This post Steak ’n Shake Partners With Fold to Launch $5 Bitcoin Burger Reward first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.