Square Lets Merchants Accept Bitcoin

[umair]

Hey everyone, I wanted to start a discussion on Square’s latest move—they’ve now given merchants the option to accept payments in Bitcoin or fiat. This seems like a big step toward making Bitcoin a more practical, everyday payment option.

The way I see it, this could be a real boost for adoption. Merchants can either keep the Bitcoin they receive or convert it to dollars, giving them flexibility and making crypto feel more “usable” rather than just an investment. From a consumer perspective, being able to pay with Bitcoin at more businesses could slowly normalize crypto in daily life.

Of course, there are a few challenges. Price volatility is always a concern—merchants may be wary of holding Bitcoin for too long. Regulatory uncertainties could also impact how widely this feature is used, depending on local rules. Plus, if most merchants immediately convert Bitcoin to fiat, it strengthens the payment angle but doesn’t necessarily help Bitcoin’s case as a long-term store of value.

That said, I think this is a positive step. Real-world usage like this has been a missing piece in Bitcoin’s story for years. The more people can spend it, the more integrated it becomes into the financial system.

I’m curious what others think—do you see this as a major milestone that could drive adoption, or is it just a small, incremental change in the grand scheme? Also, for those who run or follow crypto businesses, do you think merchants will actually start using this option, or will it mostly remain theoretical?

It feels like one of those developments that might not make headlines immediately but could slowly shift the ecosystem over time.