rewrite this title Block to Launch Bitcoin Payments on Square – Finovate

Block is launching Bitcoin for Businesses, a new feature that enables Square merchants to accept bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network, starting in late 2025.

The feature builds on Block’s existing Bitcoin Conversions tool, which allows merchants to automatically convert a portion of sales into bitcoin and offer seamless QR code payments.

This move reinforces Block’s commitment to bitcoin adoption and helps integrate crypto into everyday commerce.

Block is bringing bitcoin to the point of sale. The company behind Square announced this week that it will launch Bitcoin For Businesses, enabling merchants to accept bitcoin payments directly on Square hardware using the Lightning Network, a decentralized network using blockchain smart contracts for instant, low-cost payments.

The new offering on Square’s Point of Sale app leverages the Lightning Network to facilitate near-instant, low-cost transactions. Square’s integration calculates the real-time exchange rate and sends confirmation notifications.

This new functionality builds on Bitcoin Conversions, a feature Block launched in 2024 that allows merchants to automatically convert a portion of daily sales into bitcoin, accept bitcoin payments via QR code, and benefit from real-time exchange rates and instant confirmation. Combined, Bitcoin For Business and Bitcoin Conversions will create a more seamless experience for merchants, letting customers pay with bitcoin by scanning a QR code at checkout.

“Block has long been a champion of bitcoin, focused on making it more accessible and usable in our everyday lives,” said Block Bitcoin Product Lead Miles Suter. “Rolling out a native bitcoin experience to millions of sellers brings us one step closer to that goal. When a coffee shop or retail store can accept bitcoin through Square, small businesses get paid faster, and get to keep more of their revenue. This is about economic empowerment for merchants who like to have options when it comes to accepting payments.”

Bitcoin For Business will roll out in the second half of 2025 and is expected to reach all eligible Square sellers in 2026, subject to applicable regulatory approvals.

With Bitcoin For Businesses, Block is turning Square into a crypto-native payment network that offers merchants more payment flexibility while embedding bitcoin into everyday financial activity. The launch is another step toward Block’s long-term vision of turning Cash App, Square, and its open-source tools into the default platform for both traditional and decentralized finance.

Block, which rebranded from Square in 2021, offers a host of other bitcoin-based tools, including Cash App’s bitcoin buy, sell, and transfer capabilities; Bitkey, a bitcoin wallet; Proto’s bitcoin mining products and services; and Spiral, which builds and supports open-source bitcoin projects that promote economic empowerment.

Block is also well known for its purchase of Afterpay in 2022. The company rebranded Afterpay to Cash App Afterpay earlier this year. Block anticipated the name change to fully integrate Afterpay into Cash App, helping Block to turn Cash App into a one-stop financial platform.

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