Block Launches Real-Time Bitcoin Payments Pilot, Aims for Global Expansion

Block, a leading financial services company, has initiated a pilot program for real-time Bitcoin payments, marking a significant move towards the mainstream adoption of digital currency. The program was launched at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, where attendees could purchase items from BTC Inc.'s pop-up store using the Lightning Network. This payment system, which operates independently of the main blockchain, offers both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Customers can scan a QR code to complete their transactions, with Square's backend handling real-time currency conversion and transaction confirmation.

The launch of this pilot program represents a crucial step in Block's strategy to integrate Bitcoin into everyday transactions. Starting on the Las Vegas Strip, the program is set to expand to millions of merchants globally. Miles Suter, Block's senior product manager, has been a key figure in this initiative. Suter joined the company in 2017 when Cash App's Bitcoin feature was still in its experimental phase. Since then, he has worked across multiple departments, including Cash App, Spiral, Bitkey, and Square, to deeply integrate Bitcoin into the company's ecosystem. Block aims to gradually open Bitcoin payment acceptance to qualified merchants this year, with full implementation planned by 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Block's focus on Bitcoin as a core strategy is driven by the belief that decentralized, permissionless digital currencies are crucial for the future of the internet. Suter emphasizes that Bitcoin remains the best choice for this role. Addressing concerns that Bitcoin is better suited for holding rather than spending, Suter points to Cash App's early success, stating that someone has to be the first to adopt new technologies, and Block is positioned to drive this change.

The new functionality, built on Square's "Bitcoin Conversions" tool, allows merchants to accept Bitcoin payments directly. Over a thousand merchants are already using this feature, with participants seeing an average annual increase of 70% in their Bitcoin holdings. Merchants who prefer not to hold Bitcoin can opt for real-time dollar conversion, eliminating the risk of price volatility. Suter compares this to traditional payment methods like American Express or Visa, suggesting that Bitcoin can now be a viable payment option.

For merchants interested in holding Bitcoin, Block is developing the "Bitcoin for Business" suite, which covers the entire process from receiving payments to managing and self-custody. This suite allows merchants to convert daily sales into Bitcoin, manage their dollar balances, and withdraw funds to a self-custody wallet at any time. The goal is to provide merchants with more choices and ensure they do not miss out on any transactions.

Block's strategy also extends to small and medium-sized enterprises, which have often been overlooked in the broader discussion about corporate Bitcoin adoption. Suter highlights that Block's approach, similar to Cash App, is to make Bitcoin accessible to everyone, including small businesses. Although specific data has not been disclosed, Suter confirms that all merchants participating in the "Bitcoin Conversions" pilot have seen profits, attributing this to the conversion of a portion of their daily sales into Bitcoin.

Block's Bitcoin ecosystem includes the self-custody wallet Bitkey, mining software Proto, the open-source development department Spiral, and Cash App's transaction capabilities. Suter reiterates that Block's mission is to make Bitcoin a part of everyday transactions, believing that the internet needs a native currency, which is the core of their current efforts.