We help small businesses keep more of their profit.

The Bitcoin Merchant Community is a growing global community of small businesses helping one another defeat 3% credit card fees by accepting bitcoin.

LEARN HOW TO ACCEPT BITCOIN

Credit card providers haven't earned 3%.

Back when cash was how people paid, there were no 3% credit card fees. Today, credit cards are the preferred way to pay.

For some small businesses, this can mean paying 50% or more of their profits to card providers. Bitcoin, which is cash but digital, helps them fight back.

Connect with merchants who already get paid in bitcoin.

Thousands of merchants in the US and around the world already accept bitcoin payments.

Join our community's Facebook Group to learn from their experiences and hear how bitcoin saves them from credit card fees.

See who does business with bitcoin in your area.

BTC Map is a collaborative, open-source directory that shows people seeking bitcoin-friendly merchants where to find you.

View nearby bitcoin merchants

The best way to receive bitcoin is up to you.

Declining 3% credit card fees right now isn't much harder than pushing a button. However, a lot depends on your current point-of-sale solution and geographical location.

We can help you choose the one that's right for you, your staff, and your customers.

Meet some of the many ways to accept bitcoin.

If you already use Square, you can start accepting bitcoin today with just a few taps.

Not a Square merchant? Skip ahead.

Bitcoin payments on Square integrate with your existing merchant setup. To turn them on, follow the steps below either on your Square point-of-sale device or on web:

On your Square POS device:

If you’re running Square hardware, make sure you’re on the latest POS software (6.81+). If running Square on an iPad, get the latest app from the App Store.
Go to Settings > Checkout > Payments > Activate Bitcoin.

On web:

From your Dashboard, tap on Banking > Bitcoin, then “Get Started”.
You will first be prompted to set up conversions, which you can skip for now if all you want is customers to pay in bitcoin.

From there, you may need to enter more information about your business and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) if it’s not already set up.

Finally, you will be asked if you want to settle payments in dollars or in bitcoin.

This means that when customers pay with bitcoin, you can choose to either have those payments:

Flow directly into your Square bitcoin wallet, or
Automatically convert to dollars (with no cost or spread), which requires no new accounting or tax work—just business as usual, but without the 3% fees.

You can then decide whether or not you’d like your business to appear on a map of merchants that accept bitcoin.

You can now receive your first bitcoin payment.

This beginner’s guide can help you get set up.

Once you're up and running, you can get a Bitcoin Marketing Kit from Square Shop for free.

If you don't use Square or are outside the US, you'll need to pick a point-of-sale solution that accepts instant bitcoin payments. There are several to choose from.

We've selected some favorites that merchants have told us work well for them.

IBEX Pay is a web-based bitcoin point-of-sale solution that works on any device with a web browser.

For tech-savvy merchants, BTCPay Server is a highly customizable, open-source alternative that needs to be hosted on your own server, or one you trust.

Manna is a simple mobile wallet with a built-in point-of-sale interface, allowing you to quickly start accepting instant bitcoin payments without providing any personal information.

Blink is a reliable mobile wallet for merchants, featuring a simple web-based point-of-sale interface for accepting instant bitcoin payments and has an optional stable-dollar account.

Who makes the cut? We listen to merchants and spotlight solutions that are already popular and have a reputation for easy use. If there's a bitcoin point-of-sale solution we're missing, let us know.

If you want to learn more about getting up and running with one of these options, join our friendly Facebook Group.

Since there’s a chance that your existing point-of-sale provider doesn’t accept bitcoin payments at this time, reach out and ask them to add support. Be the squeaky wheel.

For now, we’re focused on highlighting POS solutions that work well for in-person commerce. Over time, we’ll add options for e‑commerce and professional services.

Turn your favorite shops into bitcoin-friendly stops.

Already invested in bitcoin? Get a ready-to-print kit and make the case to merchants. It includes a 1-page leave behind and a guide to help you confidently onboard merchants.

Download the kit

Learn from the best at advocating for bitcoin.

Get tricks, share knowledge, and find out what small business owners find convincing. Maybe meet some cool people, who knows.

Join the BMC Bitcoiner Discord

Become a Local Champion

Apply now to help bitcoin grow in a unique and memorable way.

We're looking for natural leaders with deep connections to their local community who can help spread the word about how bitcoin benefits small businesses.

If accepted, we'll send you a box of free Itty Bitty plushies and leave-behind materials that you can use to onboard local merchants or distribute to bitcoiners doing the same.

Apply to become a Local Champion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a secure digital currency that lets you send, spend, and save money without relying on banks or other third parties—just like cash.

What are bitcoin payments?

You can accept bitcoin payments by offering customers a QR code invoice at checkout that they can scan to pay you from their bitcoin wallet instantly. It's as simple as paying with a credit card—only on their phone.

What are the fees?

Bitcoin fees vary depending on the point-of-sale system you use.

With Square, bitcoin fees are 0% until 2027. After that, they convert to 1%. Learn more on Square's website.

On other systems, they generally range from 0.4% to 1%, but you will need to consult your software vendor for specifics. The big takeaway, though, is that bitcoin payment fees will never be as high as credit card fees.

What about bitcoin's volatility?

Bitcoin's price relative to the US dollar, also known as its conversation rate, fluctuates often. Sometimes wildly. Whether you hold your bitcoin or convert it to local currency upon receiving a payment is ultimately your decision, as it should be.

To limit exposure to bitcoin's volatility, you can enable auto-conversions on your Square hardware you use to accept bitcoin payment. This will let you capture bitcoin's foremost merchant benefit, avoiding 3% credit card fees, without exposure to short-term volatility.

How are bitcoin payments taxed?

The Bitcoin Merchant Community cannot offer tax advice. We recommend consulting a tax advisor about questions related to bitcoin income.

But at a high level, like with all payments, you are required to charge taxes on goods sold in accordance with local laws.

Additionally, depending on where you live, if you are holding on to the bitcoin you receive, you may incur capital gains taxes when you sell. If you are a Square merchant who has enabled bitcoin payments, tax documentation will be automatically generated for you and made available in your Square dashboard. Learn more on Square's website.

How is tipping handled with bitcoin?

For bitcoin point-of-sale systems that support tipping, the tip amount (or percentage) will usually be defined by the customer before you generate a QR code invoice. The customer then pays the invoice in bitcoin for the purchase amount + tip, which you will receive instantly.

Some POS solutions allow tips to be segregated by user account, others gather tips into one lump sum.

Why would customers want to pay in bitcoin?

Alongside physical cash, bitcoin spenders will already view digital cash as the fairest way for merchants to get paid. Many will pay in bitcoin to do the right thing by you and by bitcoin's growth as the best form of everyday money.

But offering discounts for purchasing in bitcoin can be an obvious extra nudge to attract more customers and reinforce the habit of spending in bitcoin. Promotions come and go, but happy customers are forever.