Square turns on Bitcoin payments for eligible US sellers, fees waived

Square has been switching on Bitcoin payments automatically for eligible US sellers since March 30, 2026. If you run a shop on Square, Bitcoin may already be on at your register, and you may not have chosen it. Square's parent company, Block, is not charging processing fees on Bitcoin payments through December 31, 2026.

What changed

Customers can now pay with Bitcoin at the register over the Lightning Network, a system built for fast Bitcoin payments. Eligible sellers are enrolled by default. Square says it serves more than 4 million sellers. That is not a count of businesses actually taking Bitcoin, because eligibility and verification rules apply. Square has reportedly passed about 1 million Bitcoin-enabled merchants.

How it works for a seller

A shop does not have to hold Bitcoin. By default, Square converts each Bitcoin payment to US dollars, and the money shows up almost instantly in the Square Dashboard. That means a business is not exposed to Bitcoin's price swings on a busy day. Sellers can instead choose to be paid in Bitcoin.

Square also offers a separate option. Sellers can convert up to 50% of eligible daily card sales into Bitcoin.

Who it affects

• Eligible US Square sellers, who may be opted in without doing anything.
• Customers, who may see a Bitcoin option at checkout.
• Not New York businesses, which are excluded.

Why Square may be doing it

The free period removes the cost of saying yes, so most owners have little reason to opt out. The move also comes after a rough year at Block. In February 2026, the company announced cuts of more than 4,000 jobs, taking its workforce from more than 10,000 to just under 6,000. Block estimated restructuring costs of $450 million to $500 million. Giving up fee revenue suggests the goal is reach, not income. Block's leader, Jack Dorsey, has long said he wants Bitcoin built into the company's core products.

What is not known yet

Square has not said how many merchants have finished the required verification. It also has not said how many have processed a single Bitcoin payment. The open question is whether dollar payouts, fast payments and zero fees will turn availability into real customer use. The material also does not say what fees will apply after December 31, 2026.

What to do

Open the Square Dashboard and look at your Bitcoin settings. Eligible sellers can turn the feature off or change how they get paid. Decide whether you want dollars, which is the default, or Bitcoin.