Key takeaways:
Businesses such as coffee shops, fast-food chains like Starbucks and Sheetz, and retailers like Microsoft and Home Depot are now accepting cryptocurrency payments through apps and third-party processors.
Increasing numbers of platforms are beginning to support Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP for major travel and airline bookings.
Luxury brands, high-end car dealerships, and real estate developers are incorporating crypto payments for premium products and properties.
Payment processors help small businesses accept cryptocurrency easily by converting it instantly to fiat and lowering compliance costs.
Cryptocurrencies have moved beyond fringe concepts in finance. By 2025, a growing number of businesses are embracing digital assets, especially Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and XRP (XRP)—both as payment methods and as strategic resources.
Why focus on these three? Each boasts strong brand recognition, good liquidity, and unique advantages: BTC serves as a store of value, ETH supports a robust smart contract ecosystem, and XRP facilitates fast settlements and cross-border transactions. Together, they offer businesses trust, functionality, and speed.
This article examines how BTC, ETH, and XRP are utilized, from everyday purchases to large-scale airline integrations.
Everyday crypto transactions: Coffee shops, restaurants, retailers
For many cryptocurrency holders, the essential test is whether BTC, ETH, or XRP can be spent as cash—on coffee, sandwiches, or groceries. XRP generally trails behind BTC and ETH in everyday transactions: fewer small businesses accept XRP directly, as its strength lies in backend or cross-border payments rather than at point-of-sale locations like cafes.
Coffee shops and small eateries
As of 2025, purchasing coffee with crypto is no longer a futuristic dream. Many chains and independent cafes have already made it a routine. For instance, at Starbucks, you can obtain a Bitrefill gift card to pay for your caramel macchiato with Ether or Bitcoin.
Wallets such as Flexa’s SPEDN or reloadable digital gift cards simplify swapping tokens for your favorite drinks.
Even convenience stores get in on the action; Sheetz accepts Bitcoin, Ether, and several other cryptocurrencies at checkout. For those loyal to XRP, directories like Cryptwerk help you find smaller restaurants willing to exchange tokens for tacos or burgers.
Restaurants and fast-food places
In select cryptocurrency-friendly areas, some McDonald’s locations accept Bitcoin through payment applications, facilitating fast food payments with digital assets.
In Europe and the US, major fast-food chains like Subway and Burger King are continuing to accept crypto payments, often through third-party gift card providers or payment processors. Although not all locations have in-house integration, it provides an easy means for consumers to spend their Bitcoin.
Steak ‘n Shake joined the fray in May 2025, launching BTC payments nationwide and seeing an 11% sales increase by appealing to tech-savvy patrons. Chipotle and Baskin-Robbins are also on board via BitPay integrations, allowing ETH, BTC, or XRP to pay for your burrito or ice cream.
Retail and online stores
AT&T allows customers to settle phone bills with ETH or BTC, helping avoid late fees. Many online and some physical retailers accept XRP through gateways like CoinGate.
Major tech companies have embraced this trend: Microsoft accepts BTC directly or through processors, while Newegg supports ETH for purchases, and Overstock welcomes XRP. AMC Theatres allows Bitcoin and other digital assets to pay for products and services, ranging from Xbox content to movie tickets.
Additionally, platforms like Shopify have democratized digital currency usage, enabling millions of small to medium enterprises to add a cryptocurrency checkout option.
Well-known retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ikea accept cryptocurrencies through Bitrefill and BitPay gift cards, so you can use ETH for your home improvement projects.
Scaling up: Travel and luxury
As cryptocurrency payments evolve, numerous travel services and airlines are facilitating bookings through BTC, ETH, and sometimes XRP, either directly or through intermediaries. For travel arrangements, platforms like Travala.com allow travelers to book using BTC, ETH, and multiple other supported digital assets.
In the near future, Emirates flyers will be able to purchase first-class seats using digital currencies, eliminating forex complications. The UAE’s luxury airline is partnering with Crypto.com to enable crypto payments. In Europe, AirBaltic has been accepting crypto since 2014 and has conducted thousands of transactions.
Luxury brands and high-end car dealers are also entering the crypto payment arena. For example, Post Oak Motor Cars in the US accepts Bitcoin for purchasing ultra-luxury vehicles via BitPay. In Europe, platforms like BitCars offer a crypto-only marketplace for premium and classic cars.
Luxury brands such as Gucci and Ralph Lauren are also expanding their crypto payment options at select flagship locations, particularly for exclusive collections.
Did you know? Alternative Airlines supports over 600 airlines worldwide and accepts payment in over 100 cryptocurrencies, including XRP.
Financial services, remittances, and institutional adoption
As cryptocurrency use extends beyond consumer transactions into payment infrastructure, institutional use, remittances, and treasury operations, the distinct advantages of BTC, ETH, and XRP become more apparent.
Remittance and cross-border payments
XRP is frequently highlighted for its efficiency, as its consensus-based ledger and Ripple’s infrastructure are designed to offer lower costs and faster settlements for cross-border transactions. Companies like Mercury FX and Cuallix have adopted or trialed XRP for such applications.
Payment processors and gateways
In an effort to reduce volatility risks, businesses are increasingly accepting cryptocurrency thanks to platforms such as PayPal, BitPay, and NOWPayments. PayPal, in particular, enables retailers to utilize over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP.
Treasury and corporate holdings
Some companies, such as BitMine, SharpLink Gaming, and VivoPower, incorporate cryptocurrency into their treasury portfolios for strategic reasons, inflation hedging, or to enhance their involvement in the cryptocurrency market.
How can more small businesses accept crypto?
The key lies in the advancement of more user-friendly technologies and a broader financial ecosystem.
Step 1: Choose a payment processor
Payment processors like BitPay, Coinbase Commerce, and CoinGate simplify crypto payment integration for small businesses with minimal technical expertise. By instantly converting cryptocurrencies into fiat, these platforms mitigate price volatility risks.
Step 2: Reduce compliance costs
Small business owners can alleviate their financial and legal burdens through automated tax reporting systems and more transparent regulatory frameworks.
Step 3: Embrace a wider variety of digital assets
With technical barriers lowered and compliance made simpler, businesses can confidently accept a broader array of cryptocurrencies.
This article does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading action carries risk, and readers should conduct their own research prior to making a decision.
