Bitcoin News Today: Small Businesses Get Corporate-Grade Bitcoin Tools, Fee-Free Until 2026
Aime SummarySquare, a subsidiary of Jack Dorsey's BlockXYZ-- Inc., has introduced a new service enabling U.S. merchants to accept BitcoinBTC-- (BTC) transactions with zero processing fees. The initiative, named Square Bitcoin, integrates cryptocurrency payments and wallet functionality directly into the Square platform, allowing businesses to store, buy, sell, and withdraw Bitcoin through their existing Square dashboards [1]. The service, announced on October 8, 2025, will enable merchants to accept Bitcoin at the point of sale starting November 10, 2025, with no fees until the end of 2026. After that, a 1% processing fee will apply from January 1, 2027 [2].
The platform includes two core features: Bitcoin Payments and Bitcoin Conversions. The former allows merchants to accept BTCBTC-- as a payment method, while the latter automatically converts up to 50% of daily card sales into Bitcoin. These tools aim to diversify merchants' financial strategies by integrating digital assets into their existing operations without requiring technical expertise [3]. Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin Product at Block, emphasized that the service bridges traditional commerce with digital currency, stating, "We're making Bitcoin payments as seamless as card payments while giving small businesses access to financial tools that were previously exclusive to large corporations" [4].
Square Bitcoin is currently available to over 4 million U.S. merchants, excluding New York State, due to regulatory restrictions. The company noted that the service is part of Block's broader Bitcoin strategy, which includes Cash App's trading features, Bitkey (a self-custody wallet), and Proto (Bitcoin mining products). Since its beta launch in 2024, the Bitcoin Conversions feature has enabled participating merchants to accumulate 142 BTC collectively by October 1, 2025 [5].
The rollout aligns with a projected surge in U.S. crypto payment adoption. Research firm eMarketer estimates that crypto payment users in the U.S. will grow by 82% between 2024 and 2026, driven by regulatory support and corporate initiatives [1]. Square highlighted that the zero-fee period incentivizes experimentation with Bitcoin, aiming to normalize its use as a transactional currency rather than a speculative asset. The service also supports instant settlement in either Bitcoin or U.S. dollars, reducing volatility risks for merchants [3].
Regulatory and market dynamics are shaping the expansion. The Trump administration's push to position the U.S. as a crypto hub has created a more favorable environment for adoption. Square noted that its compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) protocols ensures adherence to evolving regulatory standards [5]. Meanwhile, competitors like PayPal and Stripe are also advancing crypto integration, though Square's zero-fee model distinguishes it by lowering entry barriers for small businesses [2].
The launch has already impacted Block's stock, with shares rising 2.5% to $81 following the announcement, reflecting investor confidence in the company's Bitcoin strategy [3]. Square's move underscores Jack Dorsey's long-term vision of Bitcoin as "everyday money," leveraging the company's merchant network to drive mainstream adoption. As the service rolls out, its success could influence broader trends in digital commerce, particularly if it accelerates the use of Bitcoin for routine transactions.
Stay ahead of the market.
Get curated U.S. market news, insights and key dates delivered to your inbox.
AInvest
PRO
AInvest
PRO
Comments
No comments yet