Bitcoin: The World’s Most Popular Way to Confuse Cashiers (and Ourselves)

Key takeaways

If paying with Bitcoin were as simple as ordering a pizza, we’d all be millionaires. Alas, most transactions go through intermediaries, crypto cards, or instant conversions-because, of course, we’re all trying to avoid the hassle of, you know, actual money.
Surveys reveal a sizable minority of crypto holders have used crypto to buy goods or services at least once. But let’s be honest, they probably just bought a $5 gift card for their cousin’s birthday and called it “investing.”
El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender, which sounds revolutionary until you realize it’s like telling your kids they can eat cake for dinner. No one actually does it, and the system still hates everyone.
Payment processors say crypto payments thrive in online and high-value categories like travel, electronics, and digital services. Because nothing says “trust me” like sending $2,000 in BTC for a toaster.

Satoshi Nakamoto imagined Bitcoin as digital money. But now we’re all just using it to buy overpriced NFTs and wonder why our wallets feel lighter. The question remains: How many people actually pay with Bitcoin?

The answer is a delightful mess. Payment data is fragmented, intermediaries abound, and stablecoins are now the cool kids on the block. Still, let’s dig into surveys, payment processors, app ecosystems, and country-level experiments to find the truth-because nothing says “truth” like a 2025 survey titled “Cryptocurrency and Your Grandma.”

What we’re left with is this: Bitcoin hasn’t become universal money, but it solves problems better than traditional methods in specific, niche scenarios. Like when you need to send $300 to your cousin in another country and have no idea what a wire transfer is.

This article explores why measuring Bitcoin payments is harder than convincing your parents to stop using AOL, what surveys say about spending habits (spoiler: no one remembers if they paid for their coffee with BTC or a $20 bill), and what El Salvador’s experiment taught us: Making Bitcoin legal tender is like putting a “Welcome” mat on a volcano.

Why measuring Bitcoin payments is harder than it seems

There are no global stats tracking Bitcoin at checkout. Instead, analysts rely on:

Surveys asking if people paid with crypto (yes, if you once bought a $10 gift card in 2017 and forgot about it).
Payment processor data (which might as well be hieroglyphics by now).
State-level experiments (El Salvador, anyone? It’s like crypto’s version of a science fair project).
App-based systems supporting Lightning payments (because nothing says “future of finance” like a high-speed express lane for small purchases).

Measuring Bitcoin payments is complicated because:

Merchants don’t hold Bitcoin they receive. Processors convert it to fiat instantly. So you paid with Bitcoin? Congrats, you just funded a merchant’s regular bank account via a 10-step Rube Goldberg machine.
Crypto cards blur the line between Bitcoin and regular payments. You used a Visa card backed by crypto? Technically, you paid with fiat. Semantically, you’re still pretending you’re rich.
Stablecoins dominate payment flows. They’re like Bitcoin’s sensible older sibling who always brings cash to the party.

Three cases to consider:

Paying directly with Bitcoin onchain or via Lightning (the “I’m tech-savvy” option).
Paying with Bitcoin converted to fiat (the “I want to pretend this is normal” option).
Paying with stablecoins (the “I’m here for the stability, not the hype” option).

Did you know? In 2010, 10,000 BTC bought two pizzas. A tragic tale of poor negotiation skills and a $1 billion regret.

What surveys suggest about spending habits

Among crypto holders, spending is not uncommon-just not frequent. A 2025 survey says 39% used crypto for purchases. Another 2024 study claims 11% actively use it, while 19% “might” someday. That’s like saying 19% of people might start exercising if they had the right shoes.

These surveys conflate Bitcoin with other assets, which is fair, since to most people, crypto is just a fancy word for “digital Monopoly money.”

El Salvador: A real-world test for Bitcoin payments

El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender, creating a perfect lab for chaos. Despite incentives, retail adoption didn’t take off. Businesses accepted BTC but only because the government told them to. Volatility, usability issues, and the fact that most people still prefer cash made it a dud.

Reasons for failure:

Volatility: Pricing goods in BTC is like pricing them in lottery tickets.
People converted incentives to cash immediately. Because, of course, no one wants to hold Bitcoin for fear of it becoming a screensaver.
Merchants had zero incentive to encourage Bitcoin. It’s like telling a restaurant to accept checks written in emojis.
Usability problems for non-tech users. Bitcoin is the financial equivalent of a Rubik’s Cube with no instructions.

El Salvador’s experiment proved that legal status alone won’t make Bitcoin popular. Especially when existing payment systems work… just fine.

The country later allowed businesses to opt out of Bitcoin payments. Taxes and state bills still require it, though. Because nothing says “trust the people” like mandatory crypto for government fees.

Did you know? Some countries use Bitcoin kiosks to pay utility bills by converting BTC to local currency. It’s like using a bridge to cross a puddle.

What payment processors show about actual usage

Crypto payment processors reveal patterns:

Higher volumes in online commerce. Because nothing says “I trust this site” like paying in Bitcoin.
Larger average purchase amounts. Maybe because $500 for a hoodie is just “investment diversification.”
Popular categories: Travel, luxury goods, digital services. Because nothing screams “financial freedom” like buying a yacht with BTC.

These trends make sense economically. Crypto’s ideal for cross-border payments where speed > volatility. Merchants love receiving stablecoins-dollar-pegged tokens are just crypto’s version of “real money.”

Lightning and app-based payment systems

If Bitcoin is to work as everyday money, Lightning Network is essential. It enables instant, low-cost payments-perfect for buying a cup of coffee. But measuring it is like counting how many times you’ve blinked today: possible, but why?

Apps facilitate Lightning payments by letting users pay merchants without holding Bitcoin. The process:

User pays in local currency.
App converts it to Bitcoin behind the scenes.
Merchant receives Bitcoin via Lightning.

To the merchant, it’s a Bitcoin payment. To the user, it’s just a QR code scan. It blurs the line, but lowers friction-which is the point, I guess.

Did you know? Nonprofits use Bitcoin donations to receive funds globally within minutes. Because nothing says “charity” like bypassing banks during a crisis.

Where Bitcoin payments actually make sense today

Bitcoin thrives in niches:

Cross-border small business payments: Exporters and freelancers use it to avoid bank delays. Fast settlement matters more than volatility, since they convert it immediately anyway.
Travel and high-value online purchases: Airline tickets and electronics appear in reports. Because nothing says “trust” like a $1,000 BTC hotel booking.
Donations and censorship-resistant funding: Nonprofits use Bitcoin when traditional systems fail. Because nothing says “democracy” like a donation that can’t be blocked.
Remittances in certain corridors: Stablecoins dominate, but Bitcoin still plays a role where local on-ramps exist.
Gift card and voucher systems: Bitcoin buys gift cards, which is technically spending. Because nothing says “financial literacy” like indirect consumption.
Local circular economies: Bitcoin meetups and coworking spaces show usage. It’s genuine but small-scale, like crypto’s version of a community garden.

So, how many people actually pay with Bitcoin?

No exact number exists. But here’s what we know:

A minority of crypto holders use it for payments, but not regularly. Because nothing says “commitment” like a one-time $5 transaction.
Everyday use remains low, even in crypto-enthusiast countries. Because people still like cash, cards, and the occasional monopoly game.
Merchant acceptance exists but is concentrated in sectors like travel and B2B. It’s not your local bodega’s favorite currency.
Stablecoins now dominate many crypto payments, especially for business. Because nothing says “financial innovation” like pegging a token to the dollar.

Bitcoin functions as specialized infrastructure, not universal money. It’s the Swiss Army knife of finance, but you’re probably still using it to open a jar of pickles.

Practical milestones for Bitcoin adoption

Future adoption depends on infrastructure, not theory. Key indicators:

Apps that hide wallets and private keys. Because nothing says “security” like pretending you don’t know what a private key is.
Merchant tools adding Lightning without complexity. Because ease of use is just another word for “not crypto.”
Clear regulations on crypto payments. Because nothing inspires confidence like a 500-page government form.
Competition between Bitcoin and stablecoin networks. Because nothing says “peaceful coexistence” like a financial cold war.

If paying with Bitcoin becomes as easy as scanning a QR code in an app, usage may rise. But until then, it’s still the world’s most confusing way to buy a latte.

2026-02-23 18:57