If you have Bitcoin, Ethereum or other cryptocurrencies, you may be wondering where you can actually spend them – the answer: more places than ever.
What started with niche online retailers has spread to everyday purchases from coffee to cars.
Adoption has accelerated. Monthly stablecoin transactions reached nearly $1.25 trillion in September 2025, and retail-driven crypto payments grew by more than 125% year over year, showing that crypto is being used not just for trading, but also for real-world spending.
Why did businesses start using crypto?
When you think about it, it's easy to see why businesses would want to use this technology. Using cryptocurrencies to make payments is generally faster than traditional banking methods, which can take several days to get approval from all parties involved. Since no party is required to verify funds, these transactions will incur lower fees. These transactions will also be secured using cryptography, making them less likely to be tampered with than standard transactions.
Due to the benefits mentioned above, many businesses around the world want to use crypto for their needs. Online stores were the first to get involved, but now you'll find crypto payments at restaurants, car dealerships, and travel companies. As more companies see value, options continue to grow.
Speaking of expanding options, the crypto space is bringing new opportunities beyond just payments. The increase in new token launches has given investors more ways to participate in blockchain projects right from the start. 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. Initial coin offerings let you learn about new cryptocurrencies early, giving you the potential for great returns. However, you should always do thorough research on a project before investing.
Online platforms and tech giants
One of the first big corporations to understand where things were headed was Microsoft. Since 2014, you have been able to purchase games and movies using Bitcoin on the Microsoft Store. Apart from Bitcoin, the store accepts various cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, etc. to top-up your account.
When PayPal became the first company to allow its millions of users to buy, sell, or spend crypto through its platform, the game changed. Now, many online retailers can accept crypto as payment without developing their own payment systems.
Additionally, Newegg allows users to pay for computers, gaming equipment, and electronics in Bitcoin through BitPay, and Overstock began accepting Bitcoin for its furniture, home decor, and electronic products in 2014.
fashion and retail
By September 2025, approximately 18,000 businesses worldwide accepted Bitcoin payments. Some of Gucci's US stores will accept cryptocurrency starting in 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 shop with crypto through select stores. Ralph Lauren's Miami store also has some point-of-sale terminals that directly accept cryptocurrencies. Adidas and Best Buy have teamed up with crypto gift card platforms to provide an additional option for shoppers who want to use digital currency to purchase athletic apparel 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 cryptocurrencies for payments, as it accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies at some locations around the world. Another early adopter of using cryptocurrencies was Subway. They began using cryptocurrencies in 2013 and became one of the first restaurant companies to do so.
Steak 'n Shake also recently became one of the first US fast-food companies to allow users to pay with Bitcoin at every single location by May 2025, indicating that even older, established restaurants will begin accepting the cryptocurrency. Starbucks has partnered with Bakkt to enable customers to load their Starbucks cards with Bitcoin.
Travel and Entertainment
The travel industry adopted 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 finish.
airBaltic accepts Bitcoin for flight bookings, while CheapAir supports Ethereum, Dogecoin, and several stablecoins in addition to Bitcoin. AMC Theaters 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 has not yet expanded to other cryptocurrencies. Ferrari expanded its crypto payment system to European dealers in 2024 after a successful launch in the US. You can buy these luxury sports cars with Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDC.
More than 100 dealerships in the US 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 watch manufacturers. Tag Heuer also started accepting crypto for its luxury watches.
Crypto gaming and digital content
Gamers are among the first to adopt 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 more than a dozen cryptocurrencies.
After a short period of accepting native crypto wallets, GameStop stepped back and is now again accepting crypto through gift cards sold in its online store. Additionally, the PlayStation Store allows users to purchase crypto gift cards through BitRefill, which they can use to purchase 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. With transaction speeds improving and fees remaining competitive, the technology has proven itself reliable enough for everyday use. As we move into 2026, expect even more businesses to add crypto checkout options.
