More and more brands from coffee, fast-food, retail to travel, luxury goods accept payments in Bitcoin, Ether and XRP through apps, gift cards and processing gateways.
BTC, ETH and XRP have high visibility, good liquidation and complementary strengths: BTC as a store of value, ETH thanks to its smart contract ecosystem, and XRP stands out for its speed and low cost for cross-border payments.
- Payments with BTC, ETH, XRP are present from coffee shops to booking flights, luxury cars and real estate.
- The gateway helps small businesses receive cryptocurrency easily, convert it instantly to fiat, and reduce compliance burden.
- Actual implementation roadmap: choose payment gateway, automate tax – compliance, then gradually expand the list of accepted digital assets.
Which businesses are accepting BTC, ETH , and XRP for everyday spending?
Coffee chain , convenience stores, fast-food chains, large retailers and e-commerce platforms have opened cryptocurrency payments directly or indirectly through gift cards and processing gateways.
In practice, BTC and ETH are more popular at the point of sale, while XRP is often strong in infrastructure and cross-border payments. However, XRP users can still find accepting stores through dedicated directories.
Coffee shops and small eateries
Paying for coffee with cryptocurrency is becoming more common. Starbucks supports Bitrefill gift card top-ups using BTC or ETH. Apps like Flexa's SPEDN or reloadable digital gift cards let you exchange Token for lattes in just a few taps.
Even convenience store chain are getting in on the act. Sheetz accepts Bitcoin, Ether, and several others at checkout. For XRP enthusiasts, directories like Cryptwerk help find small eateries that accept the Token for snacks.
“Transactions are authorized in milliseconds and secured against fraud.”
– Flexa, Product Documentation, 2023, flexa.network
Restaurants and fast-food chain
Some McDonald's locations in crypto-friendly regions allow Bitcoin payments via the app. In Europe and the US, Subway and Burger King continue to support cryptocurrency payments, often via gift cards or third-party processors.
Steak 'n Shake rolled out BTC payments nationwide in May 2025 and saw an 11% increase in sales as it attracted tech-savvy diners. Chipotle and Baskin-Robbins also accept BitPay, allowing ETH, BTC , or XRP.
Retail and online stores
AT&T allows phone bill payments with ETH or BTC. Many online retailers and some physical stores accept XRP through gateways like CoinGate. Microsoft supports BTC directly or via processors, Newegg accepts ETH, and Overstock accepts XRP.
AMC Theatres opens up cryptocurrency payments for products and services. Platforms like Shopify have democratized digital payments, allowing millions of small businesses to add crypto checkout options. Chain like Home Depot, Lowe's, Ikea accept Bitrefill/BitPay gift cards.
| Field | Typical examples | How to |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee, fast food | Starbucks, Sheetz, McDonald's (some locations), Subway, Burger King, Steak 'n Shake, Chipotle, Baskin-Robbins | Payment apps/gateways, digital gift cards, 3rd party integrations |
| Retail, online | AT&T, Microsoft, Newegg, Overstock, AMC Theaters, millions of Shopify stores | Direct acceptance, processing portal, gift cards |
Large-scale payments: travel and luxury goods are expanding
Many booking platforms and airlines allow payments in BTC, ETH, and sometimes XRP. Travala.com supports bookings with multiple assets; Emirates plans to partner with Crypto.com to accept cryptocurrencies; AirBaltic has been accepting cryptocurrency payments since 2014 with thousands of transactions processed.
The luxury sector is also getting in on the act: Post Oak Motor Cars in the US accepts Bitcoin via BitPay for ultra-luxury cars; in Europe, BitCars builds a crypto-only marketplace for high-end and classic cars. Gucci and Ralph Lauren expand cryptocurrency payments to select flagship stores for exclusive collections.
Did you know? Alternative Airlines supports over 600 global airlines and allows payments in over 100 cryptocurrencies, including XRP.
Financial services, remittances and institutional participation
When it comes to payment infrastructure, remittances, institutional and treasury use, the strengths of BTC, ETH, XRP are evident: BTC for reserve assets, ETH for contract logic, XRP for fast, low-cost cross-border payments.
Many businesses are piloting and operating these scenarios, while leveraging the processing portal to reduce volatility and compliance costs.
Remittances and cross-border payments
XRP is often preferred because of its consensus ledger and Ripple infrastructure that aims for low costs and fast settlement times for international money transfers. Mercury FX and Cuallix have adopted or tested XRP for this purpose.
The current cost picture explains the high demand for innovation in global remittances.
“The global Medium cost of sending remittances remains high at 6.2% in Q2 2024 (for $200).”
– World Bank, Remittance Prices Worldwide, Q2 2024, remittanceprices.worldbank.org
Payment processors and gateways
Platforms like BitPay, NOWPayments, PayPal help businesses accept cryptocurrencies while reducing volatility risk by instantly converting to fiat. Some gateways support hundreds of assets, while popular large platforms focus on major coins like Bitcoin, Ether.
Integration is often simple via plugin, API, or QR. Businesses get support for invoicing, reconciliation, refunds, and automatic real-time exchange rates.
Corporate treasury and holdings
Several companies like BitMine, SharpLink Gaming and VivoPower include cryptocurrencies in their treasury portfolios for strategic purposes, inflation hedging or deeper market participation.
This approach is accompanied by risk management policies, safe custody and clear accounting procedures to meet audit requirements.
How Can Small Businesses Start Accepting Cryptocurrencies?
The practical roadmap includes choosing the right processing gateway, automating tax compliance and reporting, and then expanding the portfolio of accepted assets according to customer needs.
This allows small businesses to take advantage of new demand while controlling price volatility and integration costs.
Step 1: Select payment gateway
BitPay, Coinbase Commerce, and CoinGate enable quick integration with minimal technical requirements. Instant fiat conversion eliminates volatility risk and simplifies accounting.
Businesses can enable multiple coins, set risk thresholds and configure multiple payment channels: online, at the counter or via e-invoice.
Step 2: Reduce compliance costs
Automating tax reporting, transaction logs, and KYC/KYB processes reduces the financial and legal burden on small business owners.
As the legal framework becomes more transparent and compliance costs decrease, it becomes easier for businesses to expand their cryptocurrency acceptance points while maintaining control.
Step 3: Expand your digital asset portfolio
Once the technical and compliance hurdles are cleared, businesses can expand to multiple assets to suit their customer base. BTC, ETH , and XRP are often the starting group due to liquidation and reliability.
Step-by-step strategy to test – evaluate – optimize based on sales data, conversion rates and customer feedback.
Why BTC, ETH and XRP complement businesses well?
This trio covers core needs: trust, functionality, and speed, from everyday spending to payment infrastructure.
BTC strengthens Vai as a store of value, ETH expands payment logic through smart contracts, and XRP optimizes cross-border remittances. The complementarity gives businesses flexibility in a variety of transaction scenarios.
| Asset | Main Vai | Typical strengths | Typical usage scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | Store of value, ubiquitous payment | Brand credibility, wide network | Everyday spending, gift cards, major retail |
| Ether (ETH) | Smart contracts, payments | Rich application ecosystem | E-commerce, logic/coupon integration |
| XRP (XRP) | Cross-border payments | Speed, low cost, quick settlement | Remittances, corporate clearing, gateway |
“Nearly 75% of retailers expect to accept payments in cryptocurrencies or stablecoins within the next two years.”
– Deloitte, Merchants Getting Ready For Crypto Report, 2022, deloitte.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Which big brands are accepting BTC, ETH or XRP?
Notable features include Starbucks (via gift cards), Sheetz, McDonald's (some locations), Subway, Burger King, AT&T, Microsoft, Newegg, Overstock, AMC, and many Shopify stores and retail chain via Bitrefill/BitPay.
Why is XRP less visible at retail than BTC and ETH?
XRP is strong in the infrastructure layer and cross-border payments, rather than the point of sale. As such, few stores accept it directly, but payments can be made through gateways like CoinGate or intermediary platforms.
Can I book flights and hotels with cryptocurrency?
Yes. Travala.com supports BTC, ETH and many other assets. AirBaltic has been accepting cryptocurrencies since 2014; Emirates plans to partner with Crypto.com to accept them. Alternative Airlines supports over 600 airlines and over 100 coins, including XRP.
How do small businesses start accepting cryptocurrency?
Start with BitPay, Coinbase Commerce, or CoinGate for quick integration and instant fiat conversion, then automate tax reporting, and gradually expand your accepted asset portfolio as your customers need it.
Does accepting cryptocurrency carry price volatility risk?
Yes, but it can be minimized by using an instant fiat gateway, setting risk thresholds, and using automated reporting to control revenue, taxes, and accounting.
