Key takeout
In 2025, you’ll be ready to pay your digital wallet directly with Bitcoin and directly at 15,000 merchants and restaurants around the world. Whether you use your own Bitcoin wallet and pay directly to accept merchants or pay with a card, there are plenty of options for buying meals with Bitcoin since the first food purchases of Laszlo Hanyecz. A new overall payment structure has been formed around Bitcoin, and is now known globally, using it to pay food.bitcoin payment processors in innovative and creative ways. They process thousands of transactions each month.
As Bitcoin is becoming more accepted around the world, many retailers, restaurants and food delivery services are embracing it. Currently, customers can pay for meals with Bitcoin (BTC).
You can still buy food with Bitcoin, even if the merchant doesn’t accept it directly. Purchase using methods such as Crypto cards or crypto gift cards.
Bitcoin has long been recognized as a valuable and powerful store, but that possibility goes beyond that. As the world moves towards greater decentralization, Bitcoin is increasingly positioned to challenge traditional payment systems that rely on third-party approvals. The main purpose of Bitcoin is to bypass banks and financial institutions, allowing direct payments without censorship or forfeiture.
Bitcoin creator Nakamoto Atoshi can also create a peer-to-peer electronic cash system to start using cryptocurrency as intended to make people more independent from financial intermediaries.
This article shows you how to pay for food along with Bitcoin. Learn a variety of ways for grocery stores, restaurants and food retailers, both in-store and online.
Did you know? The first Bitcoin deal to buy food was run by Lazlo Hananietz on May 22, 2010, and later became the famous Bitcoin Pizza Day. He paid 10,000 BTC for two pizzas worth $40 at the time.
Can I buy food with Bitcoin?
The simple answer is definitely yes. Depending on the country you are in, there may be a variety of options that will be presented to you.
The advantage of using Bitcoin payments directly for food is that you avoid higher costs with intermediaries while performing pure Bitcoin transactions as Satoshi intended.
While most merchants have not yet accepted BTC as payment, there are almost always food delivery portals that accept Bitcoin cards, gift cards and Bitcoin indirectly.
All you need to do is refill your cards with some cryptocurrency. The payment processor then exchanges Bitcoin directly for local currency.
1. Make food payments via direct Bitcoin payments
The number of merchants accepting Bitcoin is on the rise worldwide, but few people have fully adopted cryptocurrency as a payment method. When Bitcoin is accepted, lightning wallets are usually used for quick payments and very low fees.
You can find Bitcoin-friendly food companies all over the world by visiting https://btcmap.org/. Select an area nearby and see where you can use your digital currency.
Depending on your jurisdiction, fast food companies accepting Bitcoin include groups such as Burger King and the Metro. MacDonald’s has fully embraced BTC as a direct payment in El Salvador and a pilot program in Lugano, Switzerland.
You can also pay with Bitcoin at certain restaurants, such as Mastro (selected US locations) or Tahini, a Canadian medium-eastern chain with a US presence. This crypto-friendly restaurant holds Bitcoin as a reserve asset.
Accepting Bitcoin directly for online orders is less common unless merchants partner with a delivery service that supports crypto. Bitcoin can also be paid with Bitcoin for food delivery at companies like Manufy in the US that accepts Bitcoin directly.
You can also purchase groceries directly from Crypto at many Bitcoin-friendly grocery stores. Whole Foods in the UK, US and Canada accepts BTC via the SPEDN app on the Flexa network at certain locations. Pick N Pay, one of South Africa’s largest grocery retailers, is a supermarket that accepts Bitcoin payments. After the pilot was successful, many stores deployed Bitcoin payments.
El Salvador is known as a Bitcoin country, and in most cases restaurants, grocery stores and online retailers allow customers to pay directly with Bitcoin.
Many small municipalities have adopted Bitcoin as their widely used currency. Other than El Salvador, many merchants, mostly retailers, have accepted Bitcoin as a legitimate payment method, in places like Lugano, Switzerland and Mossel Bay, South Africa.
How to pay directly with Bitcoin
You can download custody or non-lawyer lightning wallets directly to your mobile phone. You will transfer Bitcoin there and pay your daily expenses. Place the wallet and scan the seller’s QR code.
Did you know? The subway was the first major food chain to accept Bitcoin. The first Bitcoin purchases on the subway took place in Moscow, Russia in 2013.
2. Bitcoin Card, another way to pay for your food
Many services offer Bitcoin-funded debit cards that convert Bitcoin to Fiat at the time of sale. BitPay, Wirex and Binance are well-known companies. They support Bitcoin and crypto payments at grocery stores like Walmart. You can also convert cryptocurrencies into different currencies.
The advantage of Bitcoin Card is that it can be converted to Fiat instantly, and stores do not need to accept Bitcoin directly. The crypto Crypto Card Provider partners with companies such as Visa and MasterCard to ensure that your cards are accepted by the majority of vendors and merchants.
How to pay with a Bitcoin card
Sign up for one of the available Crypto Card Services. Please link your Bitcoin wallet. ADD Fund. Use the selected merchant card at checkout, like a regular card.
How to use a Bitcoin gift card to pay for food
Bitcoin Gift Card is a Bitcoin voucher that you can buy to buy food from popular delivery platforms such as Uber Eats, Doordash, and Grubhub. You can order food online with Bitcoin with services like BitPay, Coingate, and Bitrefill.
Bitcoin gift cards are also widely used in grocery shopping at Walmart, Whole Foods, Safeway and Riddle. Gift cards can be used in-store or online services, pick-up or delivery.
How to pay with a Bitcoin card
Use Bitcoin to purchase cards at selected stores or platforms. Check out our digital gift cards. Check out the merchants you want to pay with a gift card.
Paying with a Bitcoin gift card is one of the most widely available ways. This is especially useful if your chosen restaurant or merchant has not yet accepted Crypto directly.
Things to note when paying with Bitcoin for food
While Bitcoin offers convenient and decentralized payment methods, it is essential to take certain precautions to ensure a safe and smooth transaction.
Wallet Security: Always use a reliable and secure Bitcoin wallet, whether stored or not, to store cryptocurrency. Make sure the wallet’s private key is secure and inaccessible to unauthorized users. Transaction Fees: Bitcoin payments are designed to be cheaper than traditional payment methods, but transaction fees may apply, especially when using Lightning networks for quick payments. Please note the fees associated with each payment method. Merchant Reliability: Make sure the merchant or restaurant you are buying is legal and accepts Bitcoin through a reliable payment processor. Do not use random or unverified third-party services. Bitcoin Volatility: Bitcoin prices can fluctuate quickly, so be prepared for potential price changes between payments and merchants processing them. This is especially true when converting Bitcoin to local Fiat currency. Regulations and Acceptance: Depending on your location, the regulations surrounding Bitcoin payments may differ. Check your local cryptocurrency law and whether your local merchants are legally permitted to accept Bitcoin.
Remember that the security of your funds is just as important as how you use them. By taking precautions, you can ensure that your assets are safe while enjoying the convenience of paying with Bitcoin.