What Can You Actually Purchase With Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency?

Bitcoin has evolved from a niche digital experiment to a legitimate payment method accepted by thousands of businesses worldwide. Yet many people still wonder whether they can realistically use cryptocurrency for everyday shopping. The short answer is yes—but there’s more nuance to understand about which merchants accept your digital assets, how the payment process works, and what alternative solutions exist when direct crypto payments aren’t available. Recent surveys indicate that roughly 75% of major corporations are evaluating cryptocurrency payment integration, with a growing number already offering this option to customers.

Getting Started: How Cryptocurrency Payments Actually Work

Before diving into what you can buy, it’s essential to understand how to spend your bitcoin or other digital assets. The mechanics are simpler than many assume.

When a business accepts cryptocurrency directly, the payment process involves scanning a QR code representing the merchant’s wallet address using your crypto wallet app. After selecting the appropriate cryptocurrency your seller accepts, you’ll enter the amount, review the transaction details, and confirm the payment. The process typically takes just a few minutes, though blockchain confirmation times vary by network.

However, many retailers haven’t integrated direct crypto payment systems into their checkout processes. For these situations, several workarounds exist. Third-party platforms like BitPay and Bitrefill act as intermediaries, converting your cryptocurrency into gift cards that you can then spend at virtually any major retailer. Payment apps including PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp now feature built-in cryptocurrency conversion, allowing you to send crypto while the merchant receives fiat currency automatically. Additionally, crypto debit cards issued by exchanges like Coinbase handle the conversion on your behalf, functioning like traditional Visa or Mastercard products but drawing funds directly from your crypto holdings.

Finding Merchants That Accept Your Digital Assets

The landscape of bitcoin-friendly businesses continues expanding, though adoption remains uneven across industries and geographic regions. Interactive mapping tools like BTCMap help identify local businesses welcoming cryptocurrency payments in your area.

Not all merchants treat cryptocurrency equally. Some restrict crypto acceptance to specific coins like Bitcoin or Ethereum, while others may limit availability to particular jurisdictions due to regulatory concerns. Before attempting a transaction, always verify a business’s current crypto payment policy through their website or by contacting customer service directly.

Major corporations spanning multiple sectors have begun embracing cryptocurrency as a legitimate payment option, signaling broader market acceptance. The diversity of participating businesses demonstrates that crypto payments are transitioning from experimental novelty to practical financial infrastructure.

Food, Shopping, and Everyday Purchases with Bitcoin

The food and beverage sector holds special significance in cryptocurrency history. On May 22, 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz purchased two large Papa John’s pizzas for 10,000 BTC through an online community member—a transaction that sparked the annual celebration of “Bitcoin Pizza Day.” While Papa John’s itself doesn’t accept cryptocurrency directly, the symbolic importance of this purchase highlights how cryptocurrency has matured as a medium of exchange over the past decade.

Today, major food brands increasingly welcome digital asset payments. Starbucks customers can use cryptocurrency to purchase or reload their gift cards. Fast-casual chains like Chipotle, McDonald’s, and Subway are piloting crypto payment options in select markets. For grocery shopping, retailers including Whole Foods, VARUS, and Pick n Pay have launched cryptocurrency payment solutions for in-store or online purchases.

The e-commerce sector has embraced crypto payments more readily than traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. Overstock.com and Newegg.com began accepting various cryptocurrencies for electronics and home goods in 2014 and maintain this option today. Microsoft launched bitcoin payments on its online store in 2014, while Shopify has streamlined cryptocurrency checkout functionality across its platform. Though Amazon doesn’t directly accept crypto, numerous third-party services enable you to spend your digital assets on the platform through Amazon gift cards.

For international shopping, Tokyo-based Rakuten allows customers to pay with cryptocurrency at its network of partner merchants, offering a practical alternative for those seeking broader acceptance.

Gaming, Fashion, and Luxury Items

The gaming and entertainment sector represents one of crypto’s most enthusiastic adopters. Decentralized gaming platforms have revolutionized how players interact with virtual economies. In blockchain-based games like Axie Infinity, players earn cryptocurrency rewards—such as Smooth Love Potion (SLP) tokens—while playing, creating genuine economic value from gaming participation. Metaverse environments like Decentraland and The Sandbox use cryptocurrency for both in-game transactions and ownership of virtual property, enabling players to accumulate and trade digital assets with real economic significance.

Traditional gaming companies recognize this opportunity. GameStop and Twitch have launched crypto payment features, while major studios like Square Enix and Sony are substantially investing in Web3 applications to facilitate cryptocurrency transactions within their ecosystems.

The luxury goods market has similarly embraced cryptocurrency payments. Leading fashion and jewelry brands accepting digital asset payments include LVMH, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, TAG Heuer, Farfetch, and PacSun. These brands recognize that cryptocurrency enthusiasts represent an affluent demographic increasingly interested in digital payment options.

For those interested in converting cryptocurrency into physical precious metals, specialized vendors offer this service. JM Bullion, a prominent online precious metals dealer, accepts cryptocurrency for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium purchases, connecting the digital and physical asset worlds.

Vehicles, Utilities, and Beyond

When Elon Musk announced Tesla would accept Bitcoin for vehicle purchases during the 2021 bull market, the announcement generated significant industry attention. However, citing environmental concerns regarding Bitcoin mining, Tesla subsequently suspended cryptocurrency payments for vehicles. Though Tesla now accepts Dogecoin only in its apparel store, the company’s initial exploration demonstrated serious consideration of crypto integration within high-value transactions.

Alternative automotive channels remain available for cryptocurrency-focused buyers. Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, operating 23 dealership locations across Ohio, actively accepts cryptocurrency payments. The group successfully completed the first cryptocurrency transaction for a Mercedes-Benz in 2022, proving that high-value vehicle purchases through digital assets are technically feasible.

For ongoing expenses, some utility providers have integrated cryptocurrency payment options. Major telecommunications companies including AT&T and DishTV permit customers to settle phone, internet, and television bills using digital assets. Several governments and local jurisdictions worldwide have begun accepting cryptocurrency for tax payments, though this practice remains limited geographically.

Alternative Approaches When Crypto Isn’t Directly Accepted

The ecosystem supporting cryptocurrency spending extends far beyond merchants accepting direct payments. Gift card conversion platforms have emerged as the primary workaround, with Bitrefill and BitPay offering thousands of gift card options across major retailers. These services bridge the gap between your digital assets and traditional commerce.

Financial technology platforms have become critical infrastructure. PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp users can initiate transactions using cryptocurrency while recipients automatically receive conventional currency, eliminating merchant friction while maximizing consumer choice.

Crypto debit cards represent another practical solution. These products link directly to your exchange portfolio, converting cryptocurrency to fiat currency at point-of-sale. Visa and Mastercard partnerships with crypto exchanges ensure worldwide merchant acceptance without requiring vendors to develop cryptocurrency-specific infrastructure.

The Growing Reality of Cryptocurrency Commerce

The question “What can you buy with bitcoin?” has evolved from theoretical to increasingly practical. While cryptocurrency payment adoption remains unevenly distributed—more prevalent in technology-forward sectors and urban markets—the trajectory is unmistakably toward broader acceptance. Whether you’re purchasing pizza, luxury fashion, blockchain-based gaming assets, or managing utility bills, the infrastructure for cryptocurrency spending continues expanding.

The combination of direct merchant acceptance, third-party conversion services, and integrated fintech solutions means cryptocurrency holders today possess numerous pathways to deploy their digital assets for tangible purchases and services. As adoption accelerates, this question will transform from noteworthy inquiry to routine financial decision.