Who Accepts Bitcoin, Ether and XRP: Context and Impact
The practical use of cryptocurrencies for payments has moved beyond experimental pilots to meaningful corporate adoption. Major companies are now integrating crypto payments directly into their checkout processes or leveraging the underlying technology for more efficient operations.
Direct Retail Checkouts
Several leading technology and retail companies now accept cryptocurrencies directly. Microsoft allows customers to use Bitcoin (BTC) to add funds to their Microsoft accounts, which can be used for services like Xbox and Office. Newegg, a major electronics retailer, accepts a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH), for online purchases. Other prominent examples include AT&T for bill payments and Home Depot for in-store purchases via compatible payment apps.
Travel and Hospitality
The travel sector has been an active adopter. Platforms like Travala.com and CheapAir allow users to book flights and hotels using Bitcoin, Ether, and numerous other digital assets. Airlines such as AirBaltic have accepted crypto for years, while Emirates has announced plans to integrate cryptocurrency payments.
Luxury Goods and Services
High-end markets are also embracing crypto. Luxury brands like Gucci and Ralph Lauren have introduced crypto payment options at select stores. High-end car dealerships, such as Post Oak Motor Cars, accept Bitcoin for vehicle purchases through processors like BitPay.
XRP in Payment Infrastructure
While XRP is less common at direct consumer checkouts, its primary strength lies in payment infrastructure. Ripple’s technology, which utilizes XRP, is designed to facilitate faster and lower-cost cross-border settlements. While specific partnerships like the one with MoneyGram have evolved, the focus for XRP remains on building efficient transfer corridors for financial institutions rather than direct retail payments.
For smaller businesses, the adoption is more fragmented. Many coffee shops, restaurants, and local retailers decide on a case-by-case basis, often relying on third-party payment processors like BitPay, CoinBase Commerce, or Flexa to handle the transactions while instantly converting the crypto to fiat to avoid volatility risk. This means availability can vary, so it is often advisable to confirm with the provider before making plans.
Implications and Outlook
This shift toward crypto payments has significant implications for businesses, traders, and the market structure itself.
Liquidity and Treasury Management
When a company like Microsoft accepts crypto directly, it must manage the volatility of the assets it receives, which involves decisions on custody and the timing of conversion to fiat currency. For many other businesses, using payment processors that handle instant conversion eliminates this operational burden, making adoption simpler.
Growing Institutional Confidence
The growing acceptance is a strong market signal indicating that crypto is maturing as a payment method. A Q2 2025 survey of North American CFOs revealed that 23% expect their treasury departments to use digital currencies for investments or payments within two years, a figure that rises to nearly 40% for companies with over $10 billion in revenue. This points to increasing institutional comfort with digital assets.
Operational Advantages
The core drivers for adoption are the tangible benefits crypto payments can offer. These include faster settlement times, reduced transaction fees compared to traditional systems, and enhanced security by minimizing chargeback fraud. For cross-border transactions, these advantages are even more pronounced.
Regulatory Evolution
Widespread adoption still faces hurdles, with regulatory uncertainty being a primary concern for many financial leaders. The future pace of integration will be heavily influenced by regulatory developments, such as rulings on cryptocurrency-based financial products like ETFs, which can shape institutional participation.
In conclusion, the contest between traditional fiat rails and cryptocurrency payments is advancing. Live corporate checkouts and growing infrastructure signal maturing demand paths for Bitcoin and Ethereum. The next checkpoint will be whether these integrations continue to expand and how the regulatory landscape evolves to support them.
