If you own Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies, you may be wondering where you can actually spend them – the answer: more places than ever before.
What started with niche online retailers has expanded to everyday purchases, from coffee to cars.
Acceptance has accelerated quickly. Monthly stablecoin transactions reached nearly $1.25 trillion in September 2025, and retail-driven crypto payments increased over 125% year-over-year, showing that crypto is increasingly being used for real-world spending and not just commerce.
Why companies started using crypto
When you think about it, it’s easy to understand why companies would want to use this technology. Using cryptocurrencies to make a payment is generally faster than traditional banking methods, which can take several days to be approved by all parties involved. Since neither party is required to verify the funds, these transactions incur lower fees. These transactions are also secured using cryptography, making them less likely to be tampered with than a standard transaction.
Due to the above-mentioned advantages, many companies worldwide want to use crypto for their needs. Online stores were the first to get on board, but now you can find crypto payments in restaurants, car dealerships, and travel companies. The options are constantly expanding as more companies realize the value.
Speaking of expanding options: The crypto space continues to offer new opportunities that go beyond just payments. The increasing adoption of new tokens has fundamentally opened up more opportunities for investors to participate in blockchain projects. If you’re interested in exploring early-stage opportunities, looking at the best crypto Icos (Initial Coin Offerings) can help you find promising projects before they hit mainstream exchanges. Currently, Bitcoin Hyper, Maxi Doge and Pepenode seem to be the most popular. The Initial Coin Offerings allow you to get started early on with new cryptocurrencies and offer you the possibility of great returns. However, you should always research a project thoroughly before investing.
Online platforms and tech giants
One of the first major companies to understand the direction things were going was Microsoft. Since 2014, you have been able to buy games and movies with Bitcoin in the Microsoft Store. Besides Bitcoin, the shop also accepts various cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, etc. to fund your account.
Things changed when PayPal became the first to allow millions of its users to buy, sell or spend cryptocurrencies through its platform. Many online retailers can now accept crypto as a payment method without having to develop their own payment systems.
Additionally, Newegg allows users to pay for computers, gaming devices, and electronics in Bitcoin through BitPay, and Overstock began accepting Bitcoin for its furniture, home decor, and electronic products in 2014.
Fashion and retail
As of September 2025, around 18,000 companies worldwide accepted Bitcoin payments. Some of Gucci’s US stores have been accepting cryptocurrencies since 2022, so you can buy a designer handbag or luxury accessory with your digital wallet at one of their flagship locations.
Ralph Lauren has partnered with BitPay to allow customers to make purchases with cryptocurrencies at select stores. Ralph Lauren also has a few point-of-sale terminals at its Miami store that accept cryptocurrencies directly. Both Adidas and Best Buy have partnered with crypto gift card platforms to provide an additional option for shoppers looking to use digital currency to purchase sportswear or electronic goods.
A grocery and fast food chain perspective
Many fast food chains have adopted crypto surprisingly quickly. Burger King is a great example of how fast food chains can use cryptocurrencies for payments, as the company accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in some locations worldwide. Another early adopter of the cryptocurrency was Subway. They started using cryptocurrencies in 2013 and were one of the first restaurant companies to do so.
Steak ‘n Shake also recently became one of the fast food companies in the US to allow its users to pay with Bitcoin at every single location starting May 2025, showing that older, established restaurants will also start accepting cryptocurrencies. Starbucks has partnered with Bakkt to allow customers to load their Starbucks cards with Bitcoin.
Travel and entertainment
The travel industry has embraced cryptocurrencies because they solve real problems in international payments. BitPay Travel partners with booking platforms to allow you to pay for flights, hotels and car rentals with Bitcoin and other currencies. No currency conversion fees, no waiting for international transfers to clear.
AirBaltic accepts Bitcoin for flight bookings, while CheapAir supports Ethereum, Dogecoin and several stablecoins in addition to Bitcoin. AMC Theaters has been accepting cryptocurrencies since 2021, allowing movie tickets and discounts to be purchased using Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and even Dogecoin.
Cars and luxury goods
Tesla accepts Dogecoin for vehicle purchases but has not yet expanded it to other cryptocurrencies. Ferrari expanded its crypto payment system to European merchants after a successful US launch in 2024. You can buy these luxury sports cars with Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDC.
Over 100 merchants in the US and Europe now accept crypto payments via their websites or in-store terminals. Post Oak Motor Cars in Texas accepts Bitcoin for super luxury vehicles via BitPay.
Jomashop sells luxury watches, handbags and accessories using crypto payments. They accept Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Dogecoin and more for brands like Rolex and other premium watchmakers. Tag Heuer has also started accepting cryptocurrencies for its luxury watches.
Crypto gaming and digital content
Gamers are among the early adopters of crypto, so it was natural for crypto gaming companies to follow suit. Twitch offers a few options for crypto adoption: Users can pay for Twitch subscriptions and Twitch Gifts with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other coins through the Twitch platform’s NOWPayments service, which currently supports over a dozen cryptocurrencies.
After a brief period of accepting native crypto wallets, GameStop has backed off and is now accepting crypto again via gift cards sold on its online store. Additionally, PlayStation Store allows users to purchase crypto gift cards through BitRefill, which they can then use to purchase games and digital content.
Final thoughts
You can now buy almost anything with crypto, from your morning coffee to a luxury car. The list of companies accepting digital currencies is growing every month. Major retailers, small businesses, restaurants, travel companies, and service providers are all testing or fully accepting crypto payments. The technology proved reliable enough for everyday use, transaction speeds improved and fees remained competitive. Heading into 2026, expect to see even more companies adding crypto checkout options.
