Bitcoin on-site payment pilot

On May 28, 2025, at the Bitcoin 2025 conference held in Las Vegas, Square under Block launched a pilot for real-time Bitcoin payments. Participants at the conference can instantly purchase merchandise from T-shirts to hoodies through the Lightning Network, and can check out in seconds by scanning a QR code.

This is not a one-time event, but the first on-site application test after Square upgraded its Bitcoin automatic exchange system. This function has served over 1,000 merchants and is expected to be fully available to eligible merchants by 2026. Compared to the slow confirmation speed of traditional blockchain, the Web3-level payment experience achieved by the Lightning Network demonstrates the true potential of Bitcoin as a currency. This is not just a technology showcase, but a milestone for BTC entering a phase of being affordable, fast, and stable.

Block Bitcoin product head Miles Suter stated: This is aimed at providing fast, low-cost payment services to sellers around the world, and Bitcoin should be suitable for everyday use. Block has always been one of the most active corporate supporters of Bitcoin, and Dorsey has consistently supported the concept of decentralized payment infrastructure. If approved in the future, this plan will make Square one of the largest mainstream platforms supporting Lightning transactions, leading many fintech competitors in Bitcoin integration.

(Source: CNBC, Miles Suter)

Policy shift

Bitcoin 2025 is not just a technology showcase, but a battlefield for political narratives. The lineup of speakers this time can almost be called a luxury package of American crypto politics:

• U.S. Vice President JD Vance: stated that Bitcoin is a hedge against rampant inflation and the government’s poor policies, and predicted that the GENIUS Act will drive the large-scale adoption of stablecoins.
• Donald Trump Jr. + Eric Trump: Revealed that MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor had suggested they use Mar-a-Lago as collateral to exchange for BTC.
• Senator Cynthia Lummis: Proposed that the United States should establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve, aiming to purchase 1 million BTC and integrate it into the national strategic reserve system.

These statements are meaningful beyond the surface: when the rulers no longer oppose the legislature but begin to layout Bitcoin, the direction of the market will inevitably change.

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Summary

The successful implementation of the Bitcoin live payment pilot marks its enormous potential as a practical currency. Through the Lightning Network, Bitcoin payments achieve immediacy and convenience, greatly enhancing user experience. With the shift in policy direction, Bitcoin is gradually gaining mainstream recognition, and its role is continuously expanding from a hedging tool to a national strategic reserve. In the future, with more businesses and service providers joining in, Bitcoin is expected to become a widely used payment method, driving further development in fintech.