If you hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies, you may be wondering where you can actually spend them—the answer: more places than ever.
What began with niche online retailers has expanded to everyday purchases, from coffee to cars.
Adoption has accelerated quickly. Monthly stablecoin transactions hit nearly $1.25 trillion in September 2025, and retail-driven crypto payments grew over 125% year over year, showing that crypto is increasingly being used for real-world spending, not just trading.
Why Businesses Began Using Crypto
When you think about it, it is easy to see why businesses would want to use this technology. Using cryptocurrency to make a payment is generally faster than traditional banking methods, which can take several days to be cleared by all parties involved. Since neither party needs to verify the funds, these transactions will incur lower fees. These transactions will also be secured using cryptography, making them less likely to be tampered with than a standard transaction.
Because of the benefits mentioned above, many businesses worldwide want to utilise crypto for their needs. Online stores were the first to jump in, but now you’ll find crypto payments at restaurants, car dealerships, and travel companies. The options keep expanding as more companies see the value.
Speaking of expanding options, the crypto space continues to bring new opportunities beyond just payments. The rise of new token launches has given investors more ways to participate in blockchain projects from the ground up. If you’re interested in exploring early-stage opportunities, checking out 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 ones. The initial coin offerings let you get in early on new cryptocurrencies, giving you the possibility of great returns. However, you should always research a project thoroughly before investing.
Online Platforms and Tech Giants
One of the earliest large corporations that understood the direction things were going was Microsoft. Since 2014, you have been able to purchase games and movies using Bitcoin on the Microsoft Store. Besides Bitcoin, the store accepts various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, etc., to top up your account.
When PayPal became the first company to allow millions of its users to buy, sell, or spend crypto via its platform, the game had changed. Now, many online retailers can accept crypto as payment without developing their own payment systems.
On top of that, Newegg allows users to pay for computers, gaming equipment, and electronics in Bitcoin via BitPay, and Overstock began accepting Bitcoin for its furniture, home decor and electronic products in 2014.
Fashion and Retail
As of September 2025, approximately 18,000 businesses worldwide accepted Bitcoin payments. Some of Gucci’s US stores have accepted cryptocurrencies since 2022, so you can purchase 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 crypto through select stores. Ralph Lauren also has some point-of-sale terminals in their Miami store that accept cryptocurrency directly. Adidas, as well as Best Buy, has teamed up with crypto gift card platforms to provide an additional option for shoppers who wish to use digital currency to buy athletic wear or electronic goods.
A Food And Fast Food Chain Perspective
Many fast food chains were surprisingly quick to adopt crypto. Burger King is a great example of how fast-food chains can use cryptocurrency for payments, as it accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies at some locations worldwide. Another early adopter of using cryptocurrency was Subway. They began using cryptocurrency in 2013 and became one of the first restaurant companies to do so.
Steak ‘n Shake also recently became one of the U.S.’s fast-food companies to allow users to pay with Bitcoin in every single location beginning in May 2025, demonstrating that even older, established restaurants will start to accept cryptocurrency. Starbucks has partnered with Bakkt to enable customers to load their Starbucks cards with Bitcoin.
Travel and Entertainment
The travel industry embraced crypto because it solves real problems with international payments. BitPay Travel partners with booking platforms to let you pay for flights, hotels, and rental cars 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 Theatres started accepting crypto in 2021, letting you buy movie tickets and concessions with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and even Dogecoin.
Cars and Luxury Goods
Tesla accepts Dogecoin for vehicle purchases, though it hasn’t expanded to other cryptocurrencies yet. Ferrari extended its crypto payment system to European dealers in 2024 after a successful U.S. launch. You can buy these luxury sports cars with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC.
Over 100 dealerships across the U.S. and Europe now accept crypto payments through their websites or in-store terminals. Post Oak Motor Cars in Texas accepts Bitcoin for super-luxury vehicles through BitPay.
Jomashop sells luxury watches, handbags, and accessories with crypto payments. They accept Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and more for brands like Rolex and other premium watchmakers. Tag Heuer also started accepting crypto for its luxury timepieces.
Crypto Gaming and Digital Content
Gamers are some of the earliest crypto adopters, 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 via the Twitch platform’s NOWPayments service, which currently supports over a dozen cryptocurrencies.
After a short period of accepting native crypto wallets, GameStop pulled back and is now again accepting crypto via gift cards sold in their online store. Additionally, the PlayStation Store allows users to purchase crypto gift cards via BitRefill, which they can then use to buy games and digital content.
Final Thoughts
You can now use crypto to buy almost anything, from morning coffee to luxury cars. The list of companies accepting digital currency grows every month. Major retailers, small businesses, restaurants, travel companies, and service providers are all testing or fully accepting crypto payments. The tech has proven itself reliable enough for everyday use, with transaction speeds improving and fees staying competitive. As we move into 2026, expect even more businesses to add crypto checkout options.
Read more:
Who Accepts Crypto Payments in 2026? A Complete Guide
