Bitcoin by Default: Square's Silent Revolution Forces Crypto on Millions of Merchants

Jack Dorsey's Square has quietly flipped the switch, automatically enabling Bitcoin payments for millions of eligible U.S. small businesses—one of the most aggressive pushes yet to drag crypto into mainstream commerce. Because nothing says "we're living in the future" like your local coffee shop accidentally becoming a Bitcoin node.

The Block subsidiary announced Monday that businesses can now accept Bitcoin with zero setup required. Transactions convert instantly to U.S. dollars at checkout, with near-instant settlement and zero processing fees through 2026. It's basically ATM magic, but for your artisanal soap business.

"Automatically enabled bitcoin payments are rolling out to eligible U.S. Square sellers," the company wrote on X. "Start accepting bitcoin that instantly converts to cash at checkout, with no additional setup." Translation: your grandmother's bakery can now technically process Lightning payments without knowing what a Lightning node is.

The key twist: merchants receive USD by default, eliminating exposure to Bitcoin's notorious price swings and removing the need for custody or accounting changes. Those who prefer to stack sats can opt to keep Bitcoin instead. It's Bitcoin with training wheels, except the training wheels are actual dollars and the bike is the entire traditional financial system.

"We're making it easier for millions of businesses to accept bitcoin. This is how bitcoin as everyday money begins," said Miles Suter, Block's head of Bitcoin product. Bold words from a guy whose job essentially boils down to convincing SMBs to become degen-adjacent.

Dorsey himself confirmed the rollout with a terse "today" on X—because when you're the ultimate Bitcoin maximalist, words are optional. The man tweets less than some smart contracts.

Lightspark CEO David Marcus, formerly PayPal's president, called it a potential "TCP/IP moment" for money—the standardization that could make Bitcoin a foundational layer for moving value across systems. No pressure, just rebuilding the entire global financial stack, no big deal.

The rollout excludes New York businesses and is rolling out to all eligible sellers over the coming month. Square's user base sits at roughly 78% U.S. and 22% international, per its recent investor presentation. New Yorkers will have to keep pretending they live in the financial capital of the world the old-fashioned way.

Meanwhile, Dorsey