Spending Bitcoin
Find local businesses
Many local businesses, like cafes, restaurants, and shops, accept Bitcoin. You can use btcmap.org, an open-source map built on open data, to browse thousands of them across the globe. Many in-person payments are made over the Lightning Network, a payment layer built on top of Bitcoin that makes payments instant and keeps fees low. Acceptance now reaches national chains: Steak 'n Shake, for example, takes Lightning payments at its restaurants across the United States.
Shop online
A growing number of online stores accept Bitcoin at checkout, often through a payment processor. Look for a Bitcoin or Lightning payment option when paying: you scan a QR code or open a payment link with your wallet, and the store gets paid. For independent stores that accept Bitcoin directly, Galaxy Mind maintains a directory of manually verified stores and shows when each listing was last confirmed.
Buy gift cards
Where direct payment isn't available, gift cards can bridge the gap. Several services sell gift cards for major retailers, restaurants, and travel in exchange for bitcoin. One example is Bitrefill, a Bitcoin-native service selling gift cards, mobile top-ups, and other prepaid products. Availability varies by region.
Support a cause
Many nonprofits, charities, and open-source projects around the world accept bitcoin donations, which work across borders without intermediaries. Examples include the Hal Finney ALS/MND Research Fund, created in memory of the recipient of the first bitcoin transaction, and OpenSats and the Human Rights Foundation, both funding open-source Bitcoin development.
Accept Bitcoin at your business
If you run a business, accepting Bitcoin lets you reach customers who are looking for places to spend it. Square, a mainstream point-of-sale provider, lets sellers in the United States accept Bitcoin payments over the Lightning Network. Learn how on the Bitcoin for Businesses page. Once you accept it, you can add your business to the map.
