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June 2025 • Issue 25:06:02

Bitcoin, stablecoins and the point of sale

This, Suter added, is about economic empowerment for
merchants who like to have options when it comes to
accepting payments.

For customers, paying with bitcoin is as simple as scanning a
QR code at checkout. The ecommerce platform Shopify also
just revealed it is accepting bitcoin payments. Merchants
can receive payouts in the US Dollar Coin stablecoin, their
local currency or simply hold the bitcoin.

Meanwhile, Steak ’n Shake recently began accepting bitcoin.
With 450 quick-serve restaurants, it is one of the first major
U.S. brick-and-mortar fast-food chains to roll out bitcoin
acceptance chain-wide. Chipotle, another fast-food giant,
has been accepting nearly 100 cryptocurrencies, including
bitcoin, at its 3,700 locations nationwide since 2022 using
Flexa’s SPEDN app.
By Patti Murphy
Jason Keil, founder and CEO of Polaris Payments, mentioned
tablecoins seem to be all the rage these days, that stablecoins are popular, but they aren't inflation proof.
with merchants exploring ways they can issue or
use stablecoins, and lawmakers debating what They are typically tied to the U.S. dollar or some other fiat
S guardrails are needed to regulate this newly currency which is subject to inflation; bitcoin, on the other
emerging payment method. Stablecoins are cryptocurren- hand, tends to grow in value, he noted.
cies pegged to dollars or any other currency or value asset
(like gold). "I help enable and help onboard merchants to accept
bitcoin in their businesses," Keil said. And he helps them
decide what to do with the bitcoin they accept: hold or
Stablecoins aren't the only cryptocurrencies garnering convert to fiat currencies. Keil also runs a consultancy,
attention for the point of sale, either. Because bitcoin is
starting to show up at the point of sale as well. BitcoinPaymentsAdvisor.com.
It's a $2 trillion market

Block Inc. just disclosed plans to launch bitcoin payments Contributed articles inside by:
on Square. The rollout is expected to begin in the second
half of the year.
Allen Kopelman .....................................................................................16
"Block has long been a champion of Bitcoin, focused on Jaki Kackert .............................................................................................18
making it more accessible and usable in our everyday lives,"
said Miles Suter, Bitcoin product lead at Block. "Rolling out Elie Y. Katz ...............................................................................................28
a native Bitcoin experience to millions of sellers brings us Darin Horrocks ......................................................................................30
one step closer to that goal.
Zaki Farooq .............................................................................................32
When a coffee shop or retail store can accept bitcoin through Michelle Comfort ..................................................................................34
Square, small businesses get paid faster, and get to keep
more of their revenue." Tarun Singh .............................................................................................36

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