Jack Dorsey is taking a bold new step to weave Bitcoin deeper into the everyday payments experience. His company, Block Inc., has officially announced plans to integrate Bitcoin payment capabilities into Square—its widely used payment platform for merchants—with full implementation expected by 2026.
The announcement came during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas on May 27, where Block showcased the new functionality live at the BTC Inc. merchandise store. The demonstration offered a real-world glimpse into a future where paying with Bitcoin could be as seamless as swiping a card or tapping a phone.
Through the upcoming integration, merchants using Square’s existing hardware will be able to accept Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network. This layer-2 solution for Bitcoin enables high-speed, low-cost transactions that are ideal for point-of-sale environments. Customers will simply scan a QR code, and Lightning will handle the rest, providing nearly instant confirmation while Square manages the backend complexity.
Merchants will also have options on how they want to handle the cryptocurrency they receive. According to a post by Dorsey on X (formerly Twitter), vendors can either hold onto the Bitcoin they receive or have it automatically converted into fiat currency at the time of sale.
“This is about giving merchants more economic autonomy,” explained Miles Suter, Bitcoin Product Lead at Block. “Offering Bitcoin as a payment method isn’t just about adding a trendy feature—it’s about creating financial flexibility and reducing reliance on traditional intermediaries.”
The rollout is slated to begin in the second half of 2025, with the goal of making it available to all eligible Square sellers by the following year. Of course, the timeline will depend on regulatory clearances in different markets.
This isn’t Block’s first foray into the world of Bitcoin payments. Square already offers a Bitcoin Conversions feature that lets merchants convert a portion of their revenue into BTC. But this upcoming feature goes a step further by enabling direct payments in Bitcoin, leveraging the Lightning Network to enhance speed and reduce transaction costs.
In parallel, Block is also enhancing the privacy and security features of its self-custody Bitcoin wallet, Bitkey. First launched in late 2023, Bitkey is now being upgraded to include more user-friendly security options—doing away with cumbersome seed phrases while still maintaining robust protection. These updates will begin rolling out this May, as the company doubles down on its mission to make self-custody more approachable for everyday users.
While the conference buzzed with talk of innovation, it wasn’t just the tech companies celebrating. Dan Edwards, COO of the American fast-food chain Stake n’ Shake, took the stage to share a compelling business case for Bitcoin payments. Since adopting Bitcoin, the chain has managed to slash its payment processing costs by about 50%.
“Bitcoin has been faster than credit card transactions in our experience,” Edwards noted. “And because we’re saving so much on fees, it’s not just good for us—it’s a win for the customer and a win for the broader Bitcoin ecosystem.”
Earlier this month, on May 9, Stake n’ Shake announced that it would begin accepting Bitcoin at all its restaurant locations globally, starting May 16. The company’s embrace of crypto is one of the first large-scale food service rollouts of Bitcoin as a daily payment method.
With companies like Block and Stake n’ Shake leading the charge, the movement to bring Bitcoin into mainstream commerce is picking up speed. If all goes according to plan, 2026 could be a landmark year for Bitcoin not just as a store of value, but as a practical payment solution embedded in everyday life.
