Block trials real-time Bitcoin payments in Las Vegas, plans to fully open to customers in 2026
On May 28, at the Bitcoin 2025 conference held in Las Vegas, Block (formerly known as Square) announced the launch of a three-day Bitcoin Lightning Network payment pilot project. This initiative marks a new step forward for Bitcoin in the payment application field.
Reports indicate that attendees can use Bitcoin to purchase merchandise around the conference in real-time by scanning a QR code, with transactions settled in seconds through the Lightning Network, while exchange rate conversion and transaction confirmation are programmatically automated by the Square system.
This new feature is an upgraded version of the “Bitcoin Automatic Exchange” tool launched by Square last year, currently serving over 1,000 merchants, with an annual average growth rate of 70% in the Bitcoin held by these merchants.
Miles Suter, Block's Bitcoin product lead, stated that this move aims to build an "open, decentralized, low-cost" payment system, with plans to expand the testing scope in the second half of 2025 and fully open to all qualified merchants in 2026 (subject to regulatory approval).
Additionally, merchants can choose to hold Bitcoin or convert it to US dollars in real-time to avoid volatility risks. Block has also launched the "Bitcoin for Business" suite, providing a full range of services from payment collection, exchange to self-custody.
It is worth noting that the American fast-food chain Steak n' Shake has reduced transaction fees by 50% by adopting Bitcoin payments, and the company also allows franchisees to purchase franchise rights with Bitcoin.
In summary, this pilot marks a key step for Block in promoting Bitcoin as "everyday currency," with its ecosystem having built a rich ecological matrix around Bitcoin, including Cash App transaction features, self-custody wallet Bitkey, and Bitcoin mining service Proto. These layouts work together to continuously broaden the application boundaries of Bitcoin.
Do you believe in the application of Square's real-time Bitcoin payment technology in real-world scenarios? Do you think this will change the way people pay in the future? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section!
