Cash App makes Bitcoin even more usable for everyday payments. Starting today, the app will allow you to instantly pay with Bitcoin, even if you don’t have it, by automatically converting your USD balance on the app to Bitcoin for merchants.
In a series of app features announced today, apps can now use Bitcoin locally, pay in USD over the Lightning Network, and send and receive stablecoins. The company shared that all these updates are part of a cache release, which is the platform’s first bundled release of new features. Bitcoin Magazine.
The new “Bitcoin Payments with USD” feature allows users to make instant Bitcoin payments without having to hold any BTC. Cash App automatically converts USD to Bitcoin from users’ balances for merchants.
In other words, this will allow all of Cash App’s 58 million monthly users to access Bitcoin payments without triggering a taxable event or depletion of their Bitcoin holdings.
Square merchants also benefit because there are no fees or chargebacks, and the network operates without intermediaries. Users can choose any payment path: USD to USD, BTC to BTC, BTC to USD, or USD to BTC. All of these are powered by the open Bitcoin network. It would encourage merchants to ask customers to pay with Bitcoin to avoid card fees.
The system works anywhere Bitcoin is accepted, connecting millions more users to fast, low-cost, borderless payments.
Cash App Bitcoin Map
In addition to this Bitcoin payment feature, Cash App has rolled out Bitcoin Map. Following the launch of Square’s Bitcoin payments, the map shows the locations of local merchants that accept BTC, allowing customers to instantly pay via Lightning QR code.
The company says about 20% of Americans are willing to use Bitcoin for everyday transactions, and Cash App wants to make that transition seamless for both consumers and businesses.
In addition to all this, Cash App is introducing support for stablecoins. Customers can now send and receive digital dollars worldwide.
Stablecoins enable near-instantaneous transfers while maintaining a 1:1 value with the US dollar. Cash App automatically converts the stablecoins you receive into USD.
“Bitcoin was created as peer-to-peer cash, and Cash App is building the tools to make it fast, open, borderless and work as intended,” said Miles Suiter, Bitcoin Product Lead at Block.
When asked about stablecoins and their potential to compete with Bitcoin, Souter said: bitcoin magazine “Traditional fiat systems are Money 1.0, slow and expensive, closed systems with defined banking hours and borders. Bitcoin is Money 2.0, with the ultimate goal of being truly decentralized, open and permissionless. Stablecoins are Money 1.5, and while they are a practical tool and a meaningful improvement from traditional financial rails, we do not see them as competitors to Bitcoin.”
He explained that stablecoins are a complementary tool for users, offering speed and stability while Bitcoin remains the foundation of the platform.
Cash App will also enhance Auto Invest functionality, the company said. There are no fees or spreads for planned Bitcoin purchases, making it easier and more affordable for users to invest on a regular basis.
“Standard one-time purchases come with fees and spreads, but we’ve built an entire ecosystem of ways to accumulate sat for free, including automated investing, Bitcoin payments, and roundups. Our goal is to give our customers multiple options to build Bitcoin positions at affordable prices,” Souter said.
Since 2018, Cash App has helped more than 24 million active users buy Bitcoin with features such as paid-in Bitcoin, which automatically converts direct deposits to BTC.
Bitcoin payments via Square
Earlier this week, Square introduced Bitcoin payments for U.S. merchants, allowing nearly 4 million merchants to accept BTC through their terminals without fees until 2027.
The system enables instant transactions over the Lightning Network and was first piloted at Compass Coffee in Washington, DC, where merchants could receive Bitcoin and convert it to USD or automatically convert a portion of their daily sales to BTC.
When asked about criticism that platforms like Square and Cash App centralize Bitcoin, Souter said, “If you want to access a fiat banking system today, you need a centralized provider. The end goal is self-custody, which is why we built Bitkey. We’re building automated sweeps for self-custody, which will be rolled out later, and we’re using Bitkey for self-custody of funds received as payments or conversions. Deeper integration of Square is expected to occur in 2026.” From daily card sales. ”
Jack Dorsey’s Block Inc., formerly known as Square, has evolved into a full-stack Bitcoin company encompassing payments, mining, open source software, and self-custody solutions.
Block is driving Bitcoin adoption in both the consumer and developer ecosystems through its subsidiaries such as Cash App, Bitkey, Proto, Spiral, and Tidal.
The company owns over 8,780 BTC and continues to deepen its integration with Bitcoin to align its business strategy with the long-term growth of the network.
Souter said the company envisions Bitcoin becoming everyday money and a universal financial infrastructure that enables truly global commerce.
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