Disclaimer: The crypto sphere is inherently volatile, making most assets high-risk choices. Never commit funds that you can’t afford yourself to lose, as your financial security and overall well-being should always come first. The actual article is purely educational and doesn’t constitute guidance in any form – always conduct your research before making decisions.
Once upon a time, it all started with pizza. Remember 2010? That was the year a certain programmer Laszlo Hanyecz made history by spending 10,000 bitcoin on just two pizzas.
At the time, that amounted to about $40. And you know what’s more? The pizzeria didn’t even accept his Bitcoin directly, so Hanyecz sent the coins to another man, who paid for the order in cash.
Fast forward to today, and the BTC exchange rate has skyrocketed thousands of times over. That same pizza order would now cost… Well, let’s just say it’d be outrageously expensive.
The very first cryptocurrency has come a long way these days. Now, you’re able to use it to buy all sorts of goods and services, both online and in brick-and-mortar stores.
Already versed in the manner? Not a new one either? Then, we would be delighted to recommend an excellent exchange – Xgram.io. There, you may buy Bitcoin for everyday purchases or just swap it for other popular currencies. For example, you can trade BTC to USDT TRC20 here.
Where Can I Spend Bitcoin?
Practically anywhere. Well, at least just in a lot of places. Here are some examples.
Spending Bitcoin on Everyday Goods and Services
When you think about what can do with Bitcoin, the first thing that comes to mind is using it for those small, everyday purchases that make life a little more enjoyable – whether it’s grabbing a quick bite to eat, picking up some new clothes, or snagging some handy electronics.
Groceries and Fast-Food
Buying everyday groceries, picking up that same pizza, grabbing coffee, purchasing sushi – Bitcoin now is as easy to use as regular debit card. Like, one doesn’t have to look far for real examples:
Take Venezuela, where cryptos once surpassed the national bolivar in popularity. Back in 2019, Burger King even launched an experiment there, accepting BTC as payment for meals. And it’s not just Burger King – Pizza Hut also frequently takes Bitcoin.
Clothing and accessories
Leading fashion houses have long been implementing crypto payments. Gucci, for example: at the end of May 2022, it began accepting payments not only in Bitcoins, yet also in other cryptocurrencies – in some of its stores located in United States.
In the same spring of the same 2022 Balenciaga also announced its plans to innovate and use BTC as a payment instrument. Sure do, Bitcoin isn’t only accepted by top-tier brands: there are also somewhat more down-to-earth variations.
Electronics and gadgets
One of the Xiaomi Stores in Portugal has made history as the first retailer to accept crypto as payment for electronics. However, Xiaomi has clarified that this move is solely the store’s initiative and doesn’t reflect the company’s official policy. Well, even so, this is a milestone.
And it’s just one of many similar developments happening worldwide.
Digital Products
You may use the Bitcoin of yours not only on everyday goods, yet also various on digital items: subscriptions, gift cards, and much more. Let’s get to the bottom of it.
Gift Cards, Software and Subscriptions
Bitcoin can be used to purchase gift cards for popular retailers: like for Amazon, Starbucks, Netflix, and others. Sure, a variety of subscriptions go there as well – they too can be accessed by paying with this very asset.
Online Tools and Digital Services
Web hosting, cloud storages – and digital services were among the first to jump on this whole bandwagon. Quite a few vendors there offer the option to purchase a subscription for BTC. As for specific names, companies such as Namecheap doing that. You can also use Bitcoin to purchase domain names from services like GoDaddy.
Services Using Crypto Payment Gateways
BitPay is a good example of a payment gateway, as it allows stores to accept payments in various cryptocurrencies, including BTC of course. When a customer chooses to pay with it, the system generates an invoice as a QR code, making the process quick and easy. Also, the exchange rate is locked in when you pay, so no one is affected by dramatic price swings.
Use of Bitcoin to Make Luxury and High-End Purchases
Now, let’s talk about something exciting: luxury goods like high-end jewelry, cars, and real estate. Believe it or not, you can get all of these with Bitcoin. The days of buying just pizza and only pizza are long gone.
Jewelry and Watches
You can buy jewelry and top-tier watches using Bitcoin. Many retailers accept crypto as payment, whether you’re shopping online or in person. Someone does it directly, and someone through intermediary services – the same abovementioned BitPay, for instance.
Real estate
One standout example is the auction of luxury homes in Australia back in March 2019, where bids were accepted in BTC and BNB. But crypto real estate deals go even further back: in 2014, a house near Tahoe Lake was sold for 2,739 BTC (around $1.6 million at the time) through BitPay. Yes. Again.
Cars and Planes
You can also buy cars with Bitcoin. Since 2013, the Lamborghini dealership in Newport Beach, California, has accepted BTC – thanks to a partnership with (guess who) BitPay – for secure and easy transactions.
Tesla also joined the dance, allowing customers to purchase vehicles with cryptocurrency. However, in May 2021, it temporarily paused sales due to environmental concerns around mining. A bit disappointing, yet the issue wasn’t really with Bitcoin itself.
Feeling fancy? Then you can go for a private jet: back in 2020, Aviatrade made it possible to buy their jets with virtual coins.
Benefits of Using Bitcoin to Buy Things Online
We’ve talked about what you can buy with Bitcoin. But why use it? Like, in the first place? Wouldn’t it be easier to stick with the usual payment methods? Well, there are some pretty good reasons to spend BTC:
- First, there’s no third-party control. Cryptocurrency is only around because developers believe in it and are dedicated to making it work. Without an idea, it would be long-dead.
- Second, it’s super convenient. Transfers are fast and fees are low (yes, with some in-store purchases they can still be charged by the provider – this does happen with fiat money), and you can send Bitcoin to anyone, anywhere in the world, without any hassle. If you want to swap Bitcoin for another cryptocurrency, it’s a breeze with a solid exchange like Xgram: they offer secure swaps in minutes, with over 20 trading pairs to choose from, so you’ll always find the right one for yourself.
- Third, Bitcoin isn’t subject to the classic inflation. While it can be influenced by political and social factors (which are sometimes even a bit easier to predict), its value isn’t tied to the ups and downs of the traditional economy.
In short, Bitcoin is slowly becoming a part of everyday transactions. Its use is growing because more people are aware of it and the whole infrastructure is improving. Even now you may use it to shop for pretty much anything – to this or some extent. Like, from everyday essentials to luxury pieces.
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