Square, the popular payment platform founded by Jack Dorsey, has officially begun onboarding merchants to accept Bitcoin payments using the Lightning Network. This marks a significant step in Dorsey’s vision to make Bitcoin the native currency of the internet.
The rollout, announced earlier this week, allows selected U.S.-based sellers to start accepting Bitcoin directly through their existing Square point-of-sale (POS) systems. The integration is built on the Lightning Network, enabling fast, low-fee transactions. Merchants will be able to either hold the received Bitcoin or automatically convert it into U.S. dollars at the moment of sale, minimizing exposure to volatility.
This limited rollout is part of a larger plan to make Bitcoin payments available to all Square sellers by 2026. Square currently serves over 4 million businesses and processes more than $200 billion in annual transactions, providing a massive foundation for Bitcoin adoption at the retail level.
Square first previewed its Lightning Network integration earlier this year at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas. The goal is to transform Bitcoin from a speculative asset into a practical, everyday payment option—especially for small and medium-sized merchants.
With this move, Dorsey and Square aim to lower the barrier for Bitcoin adoption, eliminating the need for third-party wallets or complex crypto infrastructure. It also aligns with Block’s broader mission to build decentralized financial tools and infrastructure for the future.
As more merchants begin to accept Bitcoin through Square, consumers could soon start paying for coffee, groceries, or services using BTC as easily as they would with a debit card. It’s a major milestone not just for Square or Block, but for the mainstream usability of cryptocurrency.
