Square Auto-Enables Bitcoin Payments for U.S. Sellers

Block's Square payments platform began automatically enabling Bitcoin payments for eligible U.S. sellers on Monday, marking a shift to default acceptance that could bring cryptocurrency to millions of small businesses without added complexity.

The rollout, confirmed by CEO Jack Dorsey and Bitcoin product lead Miles Suter, affects an estimated 4 million merchants using Square's point-of-sale terminals. Under the new system, customers can pay with Bitcoin via QR code, and transactions convert instantly to U.S. dollars at checkout. Merchants receive fiat settlements by default, eliminating exposure to Bitcoin's price volatility and the need to hold or manage cryptocurrency. The feature requires no extra setup, offers near-instant settlement through the Lightning Network, and carries zero processing fees through 2026.

"Starting today, eligible U.S. Square sellers will begin having Bitcoin payments automatically enabled. Sellers who accept Bitcoin will receive USD as default," Suter wrote on X, formerly Twitter. He described the move as a step toward "bitcoin as everyday money," noting that the company aims to simplify adoption for businesses lacking crypto expertise. Square's...