Square
Accept Lightning payments and auto-convert card sales to bitcoin directly through your Square point-of-sale system.
Why We Recommend Square
Square Bitcoin eliminates the technical complexity that has kept most small businesses from accepting bitcoin. The Lightning Network integration means customers scan a QR code, pay instantly, and you receive funds immediately—no waiting for blockchain confirmations or dealing with the 10-minute settlement times of on-chain transactions. The zero processing fee promotion until 2027 is genuinely compelling when compared to the 1.5-3% you're paying on every card swipe, and the absence of chargebacks removes a persistent headache for merchants in industries prone to disputes.
The Bitcoin Conversions feature stands out as a passive dollar-cost averaging tool built right into your existing workflow. You set a percentage (up to 50%) of your daily card sales to automatically convert to bitcoin at market price—no manual buying, no timing decisions, no extra apps. Internal data shows participants converting about 12% of sales on average, with 89% treating it as long-term savings rather than speculation. The entire experience lives in your existing Square Dashboard alongside your other business tools, which means no new logins, no separate crypto exchange accounts, and no learning curve beyond a few settings toggles.
Best For
Small business owners already using Square who want bitcoin exposure without the complexity of managing exchanges or wallets will find this the path of least resistance. If you're running a coffee shop, barbershop, food truck, or any retail operation through Square's POS system, you can start accepting Lightning payments or converting card sales within minutes. The seamless integration means your staff doesn't need crypto training—checkout works exactly like card payments, just with a QR code.
Merchants in high-chargeback industries like digital services, consulting, or any business with subjective deliverables benefit significantly from bitcoin's irreversibility. Once a Lightning payment settles, it's final—no disputes, no frozen funds, no chargeback fees eating into margins. The instant settlement also helps businesses with tight cash flow who can't afford to wait days for card processor deposits.
Business owners who view bitcoin as a savings vehicle rather than a payment method will appreciate the Conversions feature most. Instead of manually buying bitcoin each month, you automate accumulation from your existing revenue stream. The 1% conversion fee on standard plans (0.5% on Premium) is competitive with most exchanges, and the tax reporting integration simplifies year-end accounting compared to juggling separate exchange accounts.
Services & Features
- Lightning payment acceptance
- Auto bitcoin conversions up to 50%
- Bitcoin wallet with $100K weekly buy limit
- Withdrawals to external wallets
- Tax reporting with 1099-DA
- QR code checkout integration
- Real-time USD or BTC settlement
Considerations
Only available to verified U.S. businesses outside New York due to regulatory restrictions. Bitcoin payments are capped at $600 per transaction, and you cannot deposit bitcoin into your Square wallet—only buy, sell, or withdraw. Refunds for bitcoin payments can only be issued as gift cards, not back to the original payment method.
