Bitcoin News Today: Square's Bitcoin Push Turns Crypto Into Small Business Cash Flow Catalyst

Block Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) shares surged to an eight-month high following the announcement that its Square platform will integrate Bitcoin (BTC) payments for merchants, enabling them to accept and convert the cryptocurrency through its point-of-sale (POS) system. The move, unveiled during Square's October 8, 2025, releases, marks a significant step in Jack Dorsey's long-term Bitcoin strategy and positions the company to capitalize on growing retail adoption of digital assets.

Square's new feature allows U.S. merchants (excluding New York) to accept Bitcoin payments starting November 10, 2025, with zero transaction fees until 2026. A "Conversion" tool will enable businesses to automatically convert up to 50% of daily card sales into Bitcoin, up from a previous 10% limit. Merchants can hold, buy, sell, or withdraw Bitcoin via a built-in wallet integrated into their Square dashboards, streamlining crypto management for small businesses. The company also highlighted the Lightning Network as a backbone for faster, lower-cost transactions.

The announcement aligns with broader industry trends. Research firm eMarketer projects an 82% increase in U.S. crypto payment users between 2024 and 2026, driven by regulatory shifts and technological advancements. Square's initiative follows similar moves by competitors like PayPal and Stripe, who are expanding crypto capabilities to meet evolving consumer and merchant demands. Block, which holds 8,692 BTC on its balance sheet (valued at over $1 billion as of October 2025), has positioned itself as a key player in the corporate Bitcoin adoption wave.

Market reaction was swift: Block's stock rose 2.6% to $81 post-announcement, its highest level since February 2025. The move is expected to accelerate Bitcoin's transition from speculative asset to a functional medium of exchange, particularly for small businesses. Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin Product at Block, emphasized the initiative's goal of making Bitcoin "everyday money, not just a store of value," highlighting Square's role in bridging traditional commerce and digital finance.

Dorsey's vision extends beyond payments. Block's ecosystem includes Cash App's Bitcoin trading, Bitkey (a self-custody wallet), and Proto (mining products), alongside open-source projects like Spiral, which funds Bitcoin infrastructure development. Early adopters, such as California-based Pink Owl Coffee, have already reported using the Conversion feature to build Bitcoin reserves through daily sales, accumulating 142 BTC collectively by October 1, 2025. The company's phased rollout, pending regulatory approvals, aims to expand to all eligible U.S. merchants by 2026.

The broader crypto payments landscape is gaining momentum. Google's Agent Payments Protocol and stablecoin partnerships, Visa's stablecoin-enabled cross-border tests, and Thailand's TouristDigiPay initiative reflect a global push to integrate digital assets into mainstream commerce. Block's zero-fee promotion until 2026 is a strategic incentive to reduce barriers for merchants, with fees set to rise to 1% in 2027. This approach mirrors similar strategies by platforms like PayPal, which has expanded its crypto offerings to include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins.

Block's stock performance underscores investor confidence in its Bitcoin-centric strategy. With over 4 million merchants using Square's tools, the company is well-positioned to drive mass adoption of Bitcoin as a payment method. However, regulatory hurdles remain, particularly in states like New York, where restrictions delay full implementation. Analysts note that while crypto payments still represent a small fraction of U.S. transactions, the sector's projected growth could reshape retail finance over the next decade.

Source: [1] Cryptonews.com (https://cryptonews.com/news/square-unleashes-0-fee-bitcoin-payments-sending-block-stock-to-an-8-month-high/)

[2] Benzinga (https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48118780/block-shares-hit-8-month-high-after-jack-dorseys-firm-announces-bitcoin-payments-for-square-pos-system)

[3] Blockworks (https://blockworks.co/news/square-integrated-bitcoin-payments)

[4] Cryptotimes.io (https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/10/09/jack-dorseys-square-launches-bitcoin-payments-for-retailers/)

[7] Brave New Coin (https://bravenewcoin.com/insights/square-goes-full-bitcoin-millions-of-merchants-get-zero-fee-btc-payments)

[8] Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-27/jack-dorsey-s-block-plans-bitcoin-payments-on-square-terminals)