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 hardware integrate directly with your existing merchant setup.

To turn them on, follow these steps:

You'll first need to complete the setup of your bitcoin wallet from the Banking > Bitcoin tab of Square Dashboard.
Next to Bitcoin, tap Activate and complete 2-step verification if you haven't already. In some cases, you may need to provide additional information about your business.
Choose how you'd like to receive payment.

When customers pay with bitcoin, you can choose to have those payments flow directly into your bitcoin wallet or, if you prefer, have those payments automatically convert to dollars, which requires no new accounting or tax work. It's just business as usual, but without the 3% fees.

This video walkthrough can help you get set up.

Learn more about bitcoin on Square's website.

Once you're up and running, you can get a Bitcoin Marketing Kit from the Square Shop at no cost other than shipping.

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

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.