Square Unveils Bitcoin Payment Integration and New Handheld Device

Square, the prominent financial technology platform owned by Block, Inc., has announced two significant innovations aimed at transforming the way merchants accept payments and manage business operations.

Bitcoin Payments Coming to Square Terminals

At the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, Square revealed that merchants will soon be able to accept Bitcoin payments directly at all Square point-of-sale (POS) terminals. This integration, powered by the Lightning Network, promises near-instantaneous, low-cost transactions for both merchants and customers.

• Rollout Timeline: The Bitcoin payment feature will begin rolling out in the second half of 2025, with plans to reach all eligible Square sellers by 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
• How It Works: Customers will pay by scanning a QR code at checkout. Merchants can choose to hold the received Bitcoin or immediately convert it to fiat currency, with Square handling all technical complexities behind the scenes.
• Business Impact: According to Miles Suter, Bitcoin Product Lead at Block, this move is designed to give merchants more payment options and faster access to funds, supporting economic empowerment and enhancing revenue retention for small businesses.
• Expansion of Crypto Features: The new offering builds on Square’s existing Bitcoin Conversions feature, launched in 2024, which allows merchants to automatically convert a portion of their sales into Bitcoin.

Square Handheld: A New Era for Mobile Commerce

In addition to the Bitcoin integration, Square introduced the Square Handheld, a compact device engineered to streamline business operations on the go.

• Key Features:
  • 6.2-inch touchscreen for intuitive navigation.
  • 16MP camera for product scanning and inventory management.
  • Support for traditional card payments, tap-to-pay, and QR code transactions.
  • Redesigned Square app to optimize sales, inventory, and customer engagement.
• Pricing and Availability: The Square Handheld is priced at $399 and is positioned as a versatile solution for businesses needing flexibility, whether serving tables, managing inventory, or closing sales anywhere.

Industry Significance

These developments reinforce Square’s commitment to empowering merchants with advanced, flexible tools. By integrating Bitcoin payments and launching a powerful handheld device, Square is positioning itself at the forefront of digital commerce innovation, responding to the growing demand for cryptocurrency use in everyday transactions and mobile-first business solutions.

“Rolling out a native bitcoin experience to millions of sellers brings us one step closer to that goal. When a coffee shop or retail store can accept bitcoin through Square, small businesses get paid faster, and get to keep more of their revenue. This is about economic empowerment for merchants who like to have options when it comes to accepting payments.” — Miles Suter, Bitcoin Product Lead at Block

With these initiatives, Square aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the evolving world of digital assets, furthering its mission to make advanced payment and management solutions accessible to businesses of all sizes.