Block is trialing real-time Bitcoin payments in Las Vegas, with plans to fully open to customers by 2026.

On May 28, at the Bitcoin 2025 conference held in Las Vegas, Block (formerly known as Square) announced the launch of a three-day pilot project for Bitcoin Lightning Network payments. This initiative marks a new step for Bitcoin in the field of payment applications.

According to reports, attendees can use Bitcoin to purchase conference-related merchandise in real-time by scanning a QR code, with transactions settled in seconds via the Lightning Network, while exchange rate conversion and transaction confirmations are programmatically handled by the Square system.

This new feature is an upgraded version of the "Bitcoin Automatic Exchange" tool launched by Square last year, currently serving over 1,000 merchants, whose Bitcoin holdings have an annual growth rate of 70%.

Miles Suter, the head of Block Bitcoin products, stated that this move aims to build an "open, decentralized, low-cost" payment system, with plans to expand the testing scope in the second half of 2025 and fully open to all qualified merchants in 2026 (subject to regulatory approval).

In addition, merchants can choose to hold Bitcoin or exchange it for US dollars in real-time to avoid volatility risks. Block has also launched the "Bitcoin for Business" suite, providing a full-service process from payment collection and exchange to self-custody.

It is worth noting that the American fast food chain Steak n' Shake has reduced transaction fees by 50% by adopting Bitcoin payments, and the company also allows franchisees to purchase franchise rights using Bitcoin.

In summary, this pilot marks a key step in Block's strategy to promote Bitcoin as a "daily currency." Its ecological layout has built a rich ecological matrix around Bitcoin, including the Cash App trading function, the self-custody wallet Bitkey, and Bitcoin mining services Proto, among others. These layouts work together and are continuously expanding the application boundaries of Bitcoin.

Do you think Square's Bitcoin real-time payment technology will be applied in real-world scenarios? Do you believe this will change the way people make payments in the future? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments!

#squar # Bitcoin payment #闪电网络 # real-time settlement