Block Rolls Out Global Bitcoin Payments for 4 Million Square Merchants
Block Rolls Out Global Bitcoin Payments for 4 Million Square Merchants
Block Inc., the parent company of Square and Cash App, introduced a Bitcoin payment feature for merchants using its Square platform, enabling over 4 million sellers worldwide to accept Bitcoin transactions with instant settlement. The feature uses the Bitcoin Lightning Network for fast, low-cost cross-border payments. Merchants can process Bitcoin transactions at checkout, with no transaction fees until 2027, and may automatically convert a portion of their daily sales into Bitcoin.
The rollout represents one of the largest Bitcoin payment implementations within a mainstream merchant network, extending the company’s broader work across payments, custody, and mining infrastructure.
Key Highlights of the Launch
Global Bitcoin Acceptance via Square Network: Merchants across multiple countries can now accept Bitcoin payments directly through Square’s point-of-sale system. The feature generates Lightning-based invoices as QR codes for customer payment.
Multiple Transaction Configurations: Merchants can choose among four settlement modes - Bitcoin-to-Bitcoin, Bitcoin-to-Fiat, Fiat-to-Bitcoin, or Fiat-to-Fiat - allowing flexibility in managing digital and traditional currencies based on local needs and regulations.
Instant Settlement through the Lightning Network: The Lightning integration enables near-instant, low-fee transactions, addressing the delays and costs of on-chain Bitcoin payments and improving liquidity and operational efficiency.
Fee-Free Transactions Until 2027: Bitcoin transactions via Square will remain free for merchants for two years, reducing adoption barriers for smaller businesses entering crypto payments.
Automatic Bitcoin Conversion for Sales: Merchants can automatically convert part of their daily sales into Bitcoin, providing exposure to digital assets while maintaining liquidity.
Part of Block’s Broader Bitcoin Strategy: The launch builds on earlier initiatives such as Cash App’s Lightning integration, the Bitkey self-custody wallet, and open-source mining hardware, expanding Block’s Bitcoin ecosystem across payments and infrastructure.
What It Means for Merchants
The addition of Bitcoin payments offers merchants an alternative to traditional card systems with faster settlement and reduced costs. The fee-free period can improve cash flow and attract customers using digital assets. Flexible currency configurations allow businesses to manage Bitcoin exposure alongside fiat operations, supporting diverse market and regional conditions.
Overall, the launch advances Bitcoin’s role in mainstream retail payments, reinforcing its transition from a speculative asset to a functional daily currency, and strengthens the foundation for Lightning-based global commerce.
