출처: Block Media
Square Empowers U.S. Small Businesses with Bitcoin Payment Tools
Square, the payment division of Block, has unveiled an innovative suite of Bitcoin-focused tools tailored specifically for U.S. small businesses. These new offerings are designed to simplify cryptocurrency integration for merchants, empowering them to accept, manage, and utilize Bitcoin within their operations seamlessly. The comprehensive toolkit includes three primary features:
- Bitcoin Payment Acceptance – Merchants can now accept Bitcoin directly from customers via mobile wallets.
- Automatic Bitcoin Conversion – Businesses can convert up to 50% of their daily card-based sales into Bitcoin automatically.
- Integrated Bitcoin Wallets – Square has built Bitcoin wallets directly into its Seller platform, enabling streamlined cryptocurrency management.
According to a CoinDesk report on November 8, these tools aim to help small business owners integrate Bitcoin into their payment and accounting workflows effortlessly. For the first year, eligible businesses will experience a major cost benefit as Square has waived Bitcoin transaction fees. The rollout begins on November 10 and will gradually expand to qualifying U.S. merchants.
Rising Demand for Bitcoin Payments Reflects Mainstream Crypto Adoption
This announcement is part of a larger trend highlighting the steady growth of cryptocurrency adoption in the U.S. payment sphere. Square referred to forecasts predicting a staggering 82% growth in U.S. cryptocurrency payments between 2024 and 2026. What was once a niche area dominated by tech-savvy users and investors is now extending its reach to everyday retail commerce.
The potential impact for small businesses is significant. Imagine a local coffee shop accepting Bitcoin payments from its customers, converting half of its daily revenue into Bitcoin, and managing everything—payment analytics, payroll, and inventory reporting—through the Square Seller platform. Square’s Bitcoin integration allows these processes to occur seamlessly without requiring additional software or hardware changes.
Square disclosed that in the pilot program for its automatic Bitcoin conversion feature, merchants collectively accumulated an impressive 142 BTC by 2024, signaling considerable interest in this new payment avenue.
Block's Strategic Focus on Bitcoin-Centric Innovations
The introduction of Square's Bitcoin payment tools is part of Block’s broader strategy to expand its Bitcoin ecosystem and eliminate barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) exploring blockchain and cryptocurrency opportunities. Beyond Square, Block has already invested heavily in Bitcoin solutions through products such as Cash App, the Bitkey hardware wallet, and Proto, its Bitcoin mining product.
Miles Suter, Bitcoin product lead at Block, underscored the company’s vision to make crypto payments intuitive and widely accessible. “We’re helping merchants never miss a payment, no matter the situation, while making Bitcoin payments as easy as card transactions,” Suter stated.
Block’s goal is to bridge the gap between blockchain technology and everyday business operations. By incorporating Bitcoin tools seamlessly into existing workflows, Square ensures that small businesses can enjoy the benefits of cryptocurrency without needing technical expertise or major operational overhauls.
Paving the Way for Bitcoin in Everyday Commerce
By launching these Bitcoin payment tools, Block is positioning itself as a frontrunner in integrating blockchain technology into retail and small business settings. Small merchants who previously saw Bitcoin as inaccessible or impractical now have the tools to join the cryptocurrency revolution.
As Square continues to roll out its Bitcoin services, the company is driving cryptocurrency into the mainstream, offering businesses of all sizes a new way to engage with digital assets and adapt to evolving consumer preferences. With forecasts of exponential growth in cryptocurrency payments and ongoing advancements from Block, Bitcoin is increasingly poised to become a standard part of everyday commerce in the U.S.
