Jack Dorsey’s financial technology giant Block, Inc. is poised to transform the payments landscape by introducing native Bitcoin acceptance across its Square ecosystem, marking a significant milestone in mainstream cryptocurrency adoption.
The ambitious rollout, announced at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, will enable millions of Square merchants to seamlessly accept Bitcoin payments through their existing hardware infrastructure.
The integration leverages Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, a sophisticated layer-2 scaling solution that facilitates near-instant transactions with minimal fees. Merchants will enjoy unprecedented flexibility, with the option to either retain Bitcoin holdings or automatically convert payments to traditional fiat currency in real-time. This dual approach addresses both crypto-enthusiastic business owners and those preferring conventional monetary systems.
Block plans to initiate the gradual deployment during the second half of 2025, with full implementation of Bitcoin payments across all eligible Square sellers targeted for 2026, pending regulatory clearances.
The company demonstrated the technology’s capabilities at the BTC Inc. merchandise store during the conference, showcasing the user-friendly experience that requires customers to simply scan a QR code for payment completion.
Lightning Network Transactions
The Lightning Network integration represents a crucial technological advancement that addresses Bitcoin’s traditional scalability challenges. By enabling rapid settlement times and reduced transaction costs, the network makes Bitcoin viable for everyday retail transactions, from coffee purchases to major retail acquisitions.
The system operates behind the scenes, eliminating technical complexity for both merchants and customers. Square’s infrastructure handles all cryptocurrency mechanics, ensuring that business owners can focus on their operations rather than navigating digital currency intricacies. This streamlined approach significantly lowers the barrier to entry for Bitcoin adoption among traditional merchants.
The feature builds upon Block’s existing Bitcoin Conversions capability, launched in 2024, which already allows qualified merchants to automatically allocate between 1% and 10% of daily sales toward Bitcoin investments through their personal Cash App accounts. This foundation demonstrates Block’s strategic approach to gradually introducing Bitcoin functionality across its ecosystem.
Real-World Success Stories
The practical benefits of Bitcoin payments are already materializing in the marketplace, with American fast food chain Steak ‘n Shake serving as a compelling case study. Operating Chief Dan Edwards revealed at Bitcoin 2025 that the company has achieved a remarkable 50% reduction in payment processing fees since implementing Bitcoin payments across all global locations in May.
“Our experience so far with Bitcoin has been that it is faster than credit cards, and when customers choose to pay in Bitcoin instead of credit cards, we are saving about 50% in our processing fees,” Edwards stated, highlighting the tangible financial advantages for merchants. This cost reduction creates a win-win scenario where businesses retain more revenue while customers enjoy faster transaction processing.
The success story validates Dorsey’s long-term vision of creating “an open, decentralized, fair, fast and low-cost money system for everyone.” As Block continues expanding its Bitcoin infrastructure, including recent enhancements to its self-custody Bitkey wallet with improved privacy and security features, the company positions itself at the forefront of the digital payments revolution that could reshape global commerce fundamentals.
