Jack Dorsey’s Block to Launch Bitcoin Payments Across Square Network

In a bold step toward normalizing Bitcoin in everyday financial transactions, Block, the parent company of Square, has announced a major initiative that will allow millions of merchants using Square point-of-sale (POS) systems to accept Bitcoin payments. The new feature was officially unveiled at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas and is set to launch broadly in 2026.

The announcement marks one of the most significant developments yet in the push to bring cryptocurrency from speculative investment circles into real-world utility. With Square's vast merchant network, this initiative could substantially accelerate the adoption of Bitcoin for retail, hospitality, and service-based businesses globally.

Square’s Bitcoin payment functionality will rely on the Lightning Network—a second-layer protocol that enables faster, cheaper Bitcoin transactions by processing them off-chain before settling back to the main Bitcoin blockchain. This technology has long been viewed as critical to scaling Bitcoin for everyday use.

“Rolling out a native Bitcoin experience to millions of sellers brings us one step closer to realizing Bitcoin’s potential as a widely-used medium of exchange,” said Miles Suter, Bitcoin Product Lead at Block. “When a coffee shop or retail store can accept bitcoin through Square, small businesses get paid faster, and get to keep more of their revenue. This is about economic empowerment for merchants who like to have options when it comes to accepting payments.”

Block emphasized that the feature will be seamlessly integrated into Square’s existing POS hardware and software, requiring no additional setup from merchants. Customers paying with Bitcoin will simply scan a QR code generated at checkout. Behind the scenes, Square will manage the real-time exchange rate and Lightning transaction, ensuring near-instant confirmation with minimal fees.

This rollout builds on Square’s 2024 introduction of its “Bitcoin Conversions” feature, which enables merchants to automatically convert a portion of their daily sales into Bitcoin. That program was seen as a soft entry into crypto exposure for businesses. With the new native payment feature, merchants now have a broader toolkit to engage with the digital asset economy.

Together, the conversions and direct payments features provide a two-way Bitcoin gateway: businesses can accumulate Bitcoin through sales and also accept it directly from customers.

According to the company, the new Bitcoin payments service will begin limited rollout in late 2025, with full deployment expected by 2026, subject to regulatory approval in supported jurisdictions.

Block Inc. has been one of the most prominent corporate champions of Bitcoin since Jack Dorsey rebranded the company from Square to Block in 2021. The company’s long-term vision centers around decentralization, self-sovereign finance, and open-source infrastructure.

Square’s Bitcoin strategy aligns with the broader crypto-focused initiatives within Block’s portfolio, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to Bitcoin adoption. These initiatives include Cash App, which enables users to buy, sell, and transfer Bitcoin; Bitkey, a self-custodial Bitcoin wallet designed for everyday users; Proto, Block’s mining infrastructure venture; and Spiral, an open-source initiative that supports Bitcoin development and financial inclusion projects.

Block is also one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin, with over 8,000 BTC on its balance sheet—currently worth more than $700 million.

Block said that it is working closely with regulators to ensure compliance as it prepares for the broader launch. The service will first become available in the United States before expanding to other countries.

Notably, Square’s POS platform is used by millions of small and medium-sized businesses, making it one of the most accessible fintech tools globally. The ability to enable Bitcoin payments without the need for third-party crypto providers could dramatically lower barriers for merchant adoption.

Analysts see the move as a potential inflection point in Bitcoin’s journey from digital gold to real-world currency. While major corporations like Tesla and Overstock have dabbled in accepting Bitcoin, few companies offer such a scalable and user-friendly crypto payments solution for SMBs.

The Bitcoin payment feature will likely be a strong value proposition for merchants who want to diversify their payment methods, appeal to younger and tech-savvy customers, and participate in the growing crypto economy.

If successful, Square’s rollout could spur other POS providers, including Shopify and Clover, to consider similar integrations—creating a more competitive landscape for crypto payments in the retail and service sectors.

Block’s decision to embed Bitcoin payments into its Square platform reflects both a philosophical commitment and a pragmatic financial strategy. With millions of sellers poised to gain access to crypto functionality, this move could become a defining moment in the evolution of digital payments.