Welcome to crypto

What Can You Buy With Bitcoin?

2024.12.12 20:58


Skip to content Investing Stocks Cryptocurrency Bonds ETFs Options and Derivatives Commodities Trading Automated Investing Brokers Fundamental Analysis Markets View All Simulator Login / Portfolio Trade Research My Games Leaderboard Banking Savings Accounts Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Money Market Accounts Checking Accounts View All Personal Finance Budgeting and Saving Personal Loans Insurance Mortgages Credit and Debt Student Loans Taxes Credit Cards Financial Literacy Retirement View All Economy Government and Policy Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy Economics View All News Markets Companies Earnings CD Rates Mortgage Rates Economy Government Crypto ETFs Personal Finance View All Reviews Best Online Brokers Best Crypto Exchanges Best Savings Rates Best CD Rates Best Money Market Accounts Best Mortgage Rates Best Checking Accounts Best 1-Year CD Rates Best Jumbo CD Rates View All Live Please fill out this field. Please fill out this field. Investing Investing Stocks Cryptocurrency Bonds ETFs Options and Derivatives Commodities Trading Automated Investing Brokers Fundamental Analysis Markets View All Simulator Simulator Login / Portfolio Trade Research My Games Leaderboard Banking Banking Savings Accounts Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Money Market Accounts Checking Accounts View All Personal Finance Personal Finance Budgeting and Saving Personal Loans Insurance Mortgages Credit and Debt Student Loans Taxes Credit Cards Financial Literacy Retirement View All Economy Economy Government and Policy Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy Economics View All News News Markets Companies Earnings CD Rates Mortgage Rates Economy Government Crypto ETFs Personal Finance View All Reviews Reviews Best Online Brokers Best Crypto Exchanges Best Savings Rates Best CD Rates Best Money Market Accounts Best Mortgage Rates Best Checking Accounts Best 1-Year CD Rates Best Jumbo CD Rates View All Financial Terms Newsletter About Us Follow Us Table of Contents Expand Table of Contents Bitcoin As Currency Making Purchases What You Can Buy FAQs The Bottom Line Personal Finance Financial Literacy

What Can You Buy With Bitcoin?

Cryptocurrencies are accepted by many vendors

By Rakesh Sharma Full Bio Rakesh Sharma is a writer with 8+ years of experience about the intersection between technology and business. Rakesh is an expert in investing, business, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies. Learn about our editorial policies Updated May 25, 2024 Reviewed by Ebony Howard Reviewed by Ebony Howard Full Bio Ebony Howard is a certified public accountant and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor tax expert. She has been in the accounting, audit, and tax profession for more than 13 years, working with individuals and a variety of companies in the health care, banking, and accounting industries. Learn about our Financial Review Board Fact checked by Ryan Eichler Fact checked by Ryan Eichler Full Bio Ryan Eichler holds a B.S.B.A with a concentration in Finance from Boston University. He has held positions in, and has deep experience with, expense auditing, personal finance, real estate, as well as fact checking & editing. Learn about our editorial policies Part of the Series Ultimate Guide to Financial Education Banking 101 The Ultimate Guide to Financial Literacy for Adults How to Go from Unbanked to Banked How to Open a Checking Account Online Where Can You Cash Checks? Money Orders: When, Where, and How Learning About Credit How to Read a Consumer Credit Report How to Establish Credit with No Credit History Credit Cards vs. Debit Cards Buy Now, Pay Later vs. Credit Cards Handling Debt How to Get Out of Debt in 8 Steps Student Debt Pros and Cons of Debt Management Plans How to Pay Back Taxes What You Should Know About Debt Relief Saving & Investing To Save or Invest? How to Save Money for Your Big Financial Goals Simple Interest vs. Compound Interest Building Generational Wealth 10 Investing Concepts Beginners Need to Learn How to Invest on a Shoestring Budget Intro to Digital Money What You Must Know Before Investing in Cryptocurrency Digital Wallet Apple Pay vs. Google Wallet How Safe is Venmo and Is It Free? What Can You Buy with Bitcoin? CURRENT ARTICLE Financial Literacy Tools and Resources Financial Influencer Red Flags Top 10 Personal Finance Podcasts How 211 Can Help With Your Finances Golden Bitcoins. Caiaimage/Adam Gault / Getty Images Close

Created by Satoshi Nakamoto and launched in 2009, Bitcoin was supposed to be a medium for daily transactions, making it possible to buy everything from a cup of coffee to a car. In 2024, a range of products and services can be purchased by Bitcoin.

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin launched in 2009, and its use as a currency can be transacted most easily through crypto debit cards, many of which are partnered with Mastercard and Visa. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can be used to buy a range of products and services.
Electronics, luxury watches, and cars are among the items that cryptocurrency can purchase.

Bitcoin As Currency

Retailer and consumer acceptance of Bitcoin has mirrored its wild ride in crypto markets, and as its value increased in 2017, so did its appeal as a currency. Innovations like the Lightning Network scale the number of transactions in the cryptocurrency’s network, making them faster and more efficient.

Cryptocurrency is no longer confined to an obscure corner of the financial services industry. The crypto exchange platform Coinbase’s public listing, new price records , and positive mentions by regulators and policymakers are proof of its potential.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States on Jan. 10, 2024. Bitcoin futures ETFs have been trading since 2021.


Making Purchases

The easiest way to buy anything with Bitcoin is with a crypto debit card. Such cards are preloaded with the cryptocurrency of your choice. While you spend crypto, the retailer receives fiat money as payment. Crypto debit cards partner with payment-processing giants like Mastercard and Visa to ensure transactions occur seamlessly.

Note

PayPal allows customers to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency in their accounts.

What You Can Buy

Cars : The list includes Lamborghinis, and electric carmaker Tesla has joined the list of companies that enable you to purchase cars with cryptocurrency. Tesla CEO and X Corp owner Elon Musk is a crypto enthusiast. Technology and E-commerce Products : Several companies that sell tech products accept cryptocurrency, including Newegg, AT&T, and Microsoft. Other sites, including Shopify and the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, allow you to purchase products with Bitcoin.
Jewelry and Watches : The online luxury retailer BitDials offers Rolex, Patek Philippe, and other high-end watches in return for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Luxury watchmaker Franck Muller produced a watch encrusted with gold and diamonds with a QR code from the Bitcoin Genesis Block . News Media : In 2014, magazine publisher Time Inc. began accepting cryptocurrency for digital subscriptions. In 2019, the magazine publisher formed a new cryptocurrency partnership with Crypto.com. Insurance : In April 2021, Swiss insurer AXA began accepting cryptocurrency as a mode of payment for all of its lines of insurance except for life insurance. Metromile, an agency that sells "pay-per-mile" auto insurance policies, also accepts Bitcoin for premium payments.

Overstock (now owned by Beyond), an e-commerce platform selling a wide array of merchandise, was among the first sites to accept bitcoin in 2014; its founder, Patrick Byrne, was an early proponent.

Can I Buy Things With Bitcoin?

Many merchants and retailers accept bitcoin. The easiest and most convenient way to make purchases using bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies is with a cryptocurrency debit card. These cards are available from major crypto exchanges and other providers, and holders can withdraw cash from participating ATMs. Many use networks such as Mastercard and Visa.

How Can I Pay With Bitcoin?

You can pay with bitcoin using your wallet at retailers or merchants that accept it. If they don t you can use Bitcoin debit cards, which work much like regular prepaid debit cards. You preload them with bitcoin or another cryptocurrency of your choice. When you use them, the money is withdrawn from your card in cryptocurrency.

How Do You Convert Bitcoin to Cash?

To convert your bitcoin or other cryptocurrency to cash, you must use a cryptocurrency exchange or send it to someone you know who will give you the money.

The Bottom Line

The list of goods and services you can buy with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is growing as people and vendors get more comfortable with virtual money. Insurance, consumer staples, luxury watches, and event tickets are among the items that cryptos will buy. Available from major crypto exchanges and other providers, debit cards permit holders to withdraw cash from participating ATMs.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes online. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info.

Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. " Statement on the Approval of Spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Products ."

Visa. " Crypto-linked Cards See Continued Growth ."

Mastercard. " Mastercard Creates Simplified Payments Card Offering for Cryptocurrency Companies ."

PayPal. " Buy, Sell, and Hold Crypto With Confidence ."

Newegg. " Newegg Is Now Accepting Bitcoin ."

AT&T. " AT&T Now Accepts BitPay ."

BitPay. " Microsoft Chooses BitPay to Power Bitcoin Payments ."

Rakuten. " Rakuten Wallet Launches Service for Exchanging Rakuten Super Points for Crypto Assets ."

BitDials. " Frequently Asked Questions ." Select "Watch & Jewelry Finder" and "Payment."

Franck Muller. " World’s First Functional Bitcoin Watch ."

Time, Inc. " TIME Partners With Crypto.com to Offer Cryptocurrency as a Form of Payment for Digital Subscriptions ."

AXA via Internet Archive. “ New Payment Option: Bitcoin .”

X. " Metromile. May 06, 2021, 8:05 AM ."

Beyond. " Overstock Accepts Bitcoin Internationally ."

Compare Accounts Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace. Part of the Series Ultimate Guide to Financial Education Banking 101 The Ultimate Guide to Financial Literacy for Adults How to Go from Unbanked to Banked How to Open a Checking Account Online Where Can You Cash Checks? Money Orders: When, Where, and How Learning About Credit How to Read a Consumer Credit Report How to Establish Credit with No Credit History Credit Cards vs. Debit Cards Buy Now, Pay Later vs. Credit Cards Handling Debt How to Get Out of Debt in 8 Steps Student Debt Pros and Cons of Debt Management Plans How to Pay Back Taxes What You Should Know About Debt Relief Saving & Investing To Save or Invest? How to Save Money for Your Big Financial Goals Simple Interest vs. Compound Interest Building Generational Wealth 10 Investing Concepts Beginners Need to Learn How to Invest on a Shoestring Budget Intro to Digital Money What You Must Know Before Investing in Cryptocurrency Digital Wallet Apple Pay vs. Google Wallet How Safe is Venmo and Is It Free? What Can You Buy with Bitcoin? CURRENT ARTICLE Financial Literacy Tools and Resources Financial Influencer Red Flags Top 10 Personal Finance Podcasts How 211 Can Help With Your Finances Related Articles The Ultimate Guide to Financial Literacy for Adults How to File Your Child s First Income Tax Return Bitcoin IRA: What It Means, How It Works Debit Card vs. Credit Card: What s the Difference? How to Budget Money: Your Step-by-Step Guide The History of Money: Bartering to Banknotes to Bitcoin Partner Links Related Terms Bitcoin IRA: What It Means, How It Works Bitcoin IRAs allow you to invest your retirement savings in cryptocurrencies, although these accounts are specialized to handle Bitcoin, they come at a high cost. more What Is Bitcoin? How To Buy, Mine, and Use It BTC meaning: a digital currency that uses peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant financial transactions and removes the need for third-party involvement. more What Is Bitcoin Mining? How to Get Started Breaking down everything you need to know about Bitcoin mining, from blockchain and block rewards to proof of work and mining pools. more Student Debt: What It Means, How It Works, and Forgiveness Student debt refers to loans used to pay for college tuition and repaid after the student graduates or leaves school. more Generational Wealth: Overview and Examples Generational wealth refers to assets passed by one generation of a family to another, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and family businesses. more What Is a Digital Wallet? A digital wallet is an application on an electronic device that stores payment information and allows you to securely make purchases without carrying cash or cards. more About Us Terms of Service Dictionary Editorial Policy Advertise News Privacy Policy Contact Us Careers EU Privacy # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Investopedia is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

We Care About Your Privacy

We and our 100 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data. Privacy Policy

We and our partners process data to provide:

Store and/or access information on a device. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners (vendors)

Accept All Reject All Show Purposes