Will Block succeed? The idea of using Bitcoin as everyday money has fascinated technologists, investors, and idealists for more than a decade. While Bitcoin started as a niche experiment in digital currency, it has grown into a global asset held by institutions, retail investors, and even some governments. Yet for most people, Bitcoin still functions more like digital gold than a true medium of exchange. You might hold it, trade it, or speculate on it—but you probably do not use it to buy coffee or pay rent.
That is the gap Block, Inc. (formerly Square) wants to close. Co-founded by Jack Dorsey, Block has openly stated its ambition to help turn Bitcoin into everyday money. Through products like Cash App, its Bitcoin-focused division Spiral, and its decentralized finance initiative TBD, Block is building tools that aim to make Bitcoin payments as simple as sending a text. Will Block succeed.
But the big question remains: Will Block succeed in its mission to turn Bitcoin into everyday money? To answer this, we need to understand what Block is doing, how Bitcoin currently functions in the real world, and what obstacles stand in the way of mainstream Bitcoin adoption. Will Block succeed
Understanding Block’s vision for Bitcoin as everyday money
Block is not just dabbling in cryptocurrency for hype. Bitcoin is deeply integrated into its long-term strategy. Jack Dorsey has repeatedly emphasized that he sees Bitcoin as the native currency of the internet, and Block’s businesses increasingly reflect that belief. Will Block succeed.
Block’s Bitcoin-first philosophy
Unlike many companies that treat crypto as a side project, Block has embraced a Bitcoin-first philosophy. While other firms experiment with dozens of cryptocurrencies, Block focuses almost exclusively on Bitcoin. This focus allows it to build a more coherent ecosystem instead of spreading resources across multiple chains and tokens. Will Block succeed.
The central idea is simple: if Bitcoin becomes everyday money, Block can sit at the heart of that future financial system, offering tools for spending, saving, lending, and building on top of this open network. By aligning its business with a single open protocol, Block hopes to benefit from network effects, developer innovation, and growing global demand for secure, decentralized money.
How Bitcoin works today: store of value vs. everyday currency
Before judging Block’s chances, it is important to understand how Bitcoin is used today. Despite its origins as peer-to-peer electronic cash, Bitcoin’s primary role has evolved.
Bitcoin as “digital gold”
Today, many people see Bitcoin as digital gold rather than day-to-day money. It is held as a store of value—a hedge against inflation, currency devaluation, or traditional financial instability. Investors buy Bitcoin through exchanges, apps, or brokers and often keep it for the long term.
This “hodl” mentality has clear benefits: it supports Bitcoin’s scarcity narrative and reinforces its role as a long-term asset. However, it also means fewer people are using Bitcoin for everyday transactions, like grocery shopping or monthly subscriptions.
Why Bitcoin struggles as daily spending money
Turning Bitcoin into everyday money is not straightforward. Several challenges hold it back: Price volatility: Bitcoin’s value can swing dramatically in a short time. A payment worth $10 at checkout could be worth $9 or $11 an hour later. This makes pricing in Bitcoin difficult for merchants and confusing for consumers. Scalability concerns: The main Bitcoin blockchain can process only a limited number of transactions per second. During busy times, fees can rise and confirmation times can slow down, making small payments inefficient. User experience issues: Managing wallets, private keys, and addresses can be intimidating for non-technical users. To function as everyday money, Bitcoin must be as easy to use as a debit card or mobile wallet. Regulatory uncertainty: The way governments treat Bitcoin payments and taxes can discourage everyday use. In some regions, every Bitcoin transaction triggers a taxable event, making it impractical for daily spending. Will Block succeed.
Block’s mission is to tackle these issues—especially user experience and accessibility—so that people can spend Bitcoin as naturally as they send a message or swipe a card.
The role of Cash App in Bitcoin adoption
One of Block’s most powerful tools for Bitcoin adoption is Cash App, its popular mobile payment application. Cash App started as a simple peer-to-peer payment service, but today it is a full ecosystem for banking, investing, and Bitcoin.
Cash App as a Bitcoin on-ramp
For millions of users, Cash App is one of the easiest ways to buy and sell Bitcoin. You can link a bank account or card, purchase a small amount of Bitcoin, and store it directly in the app. This makes Bitcoin accessible to people who might never open a traditional cryptocurrency exchange account.
By simplifying the process of getting into Bitcoin, Cash App acts as a gateway for mainstream users. The more people who hold Bitcoin within Cash App, the easier it becomes to introduce Bitcoin-based features, such as spending, sending, or even using Bitcoin as collateral in future financial products.
Peer-to-peer Bitcoin transfers and payments
Cash App not only lets users buy Bitcoin; it also enables them to send Bitcoin to other wallets. This is a crucial step toward making Bitcoin everyday money, because it encourages actual use of the asset rather than just passive holding.
If Block continues to improve Bitcoin payments within Cash App—making them faster, cheaper, and more intuitive—it could normalize the idea of paying friends, family, or even merchants with Bitcoin. Over time, this behavior shift could help bridge the gap between Bitcoin as an investment and Bitcoin as a medium of exchange.
Spiral: Building tools for the Bitcoin ecosystem
Another major piece of Block’s Bitcoin strategy is Spiral (formerly Square Crypto), a division wholly focused on supporting the Bitcoin ecosystem. Unlike Cash App, which is a consumer product, Spiral is a developer- and infrastructure-focused initiative.
Open-source development and the Lightning Network
Spiral supports open-source projects that make Bitcoin easier to use, more scalable, and more secure. Much of this work centers on the Lightning Network, a second-layer technology built on top of Bitcoin that enables faster and cheaper transactions.
The Lightning Network is critical for the idea of everyday Bitcoin payments. Instead of sending every transaction through the main blockchain, Lightning allows users to open payment channels and transact instantly with low fees. This is especially useful for microtransactions, such as buying coffee, paying for a ride, or tipping creators.
By funding tools, libraries, and infrastructure for Lightning, Spiral is helping to create the technical foundation that can make Bitcoin practical for daily use. If Lightning becomes widely adopted and deeply integrated into apps and payment systems, many of Bitcoin’s scalability and fee issues could be reduced.
Supporting the broader Bitcoin community
Spiral also backs developers, designers, and researchers around the world who work on Bitcoin-related projects. This community-centric approach aligns with Bitcoin’s ethos as an open, decentralized network. Instead of trying to own the entire stack, Block is helping the entire Bitcoin ecosystem grow, which indirectly supports its own mission.
The more robust and user-friendly the overall Bitcoin ecosystem becomes, the more realistic it is to imagine Bitcoin functioning as everyday money—inside and outside Block’s products.
TBD: Decentralized finance, identity, and global access
Block’s Bitcoin strategy extends beyond payments and infrastructure. Its initiative TBD focuses on building open platforms for decentralized finance (DeFi), identity, and global payments that can work on top of Bitcoin and other decentralized technologies.
The dream of a Bitcoin-powered open financial system
TBD is designed to enable open, permissionless financial services that anyone with an internet connection can access. In many countries, people lack access to traditional banking, face high fees for cross-border transfers, or live under unstable currencies. For them, Bitcoin as everyday money is not just a convenience—it can be a lifeline.
By building tools for remittances, borrowing, lending, and identity verification that connect to Bitcoin, TBD aims to create pathways for people to participate in the global economy without relying on gatekeepers. If successful, these products could drive Bitcoin adoption in regions where the need for sound, open money is most urgent.
Identity and compliance in a Bitcoin world
Another key piece is digital identity. To scale Bitcoin payments globally—especially in a compliant way—there must be secure, user-controlled identity systems. TBD’s work in this area could help reconcile decentralized money with regulatory requirements, enabling Bitcoin to function as everyday money without sacrificing privacy or usability.
If Block can combine Bitcoin, open identity, and decentralized finance into a coherent platform, it could dramatically expand the scope of what people can do with Bitcoin in their daily lives.
Overcoming volatility: Can Bitcoin be money if the price keeps moving?
One of the biggest questions around using Bitcoin as everyday money is volatility. How can something that swings 5–10% in a day be used like a stable currency?
The store-of-value layer and payment layer distinction
Block’s approach does not require Bitcoin’s price to stop moving entirely. Instead, it leans into the idea that Bitcoin can be a store of value, while second-layer technologies and financial products handle price stability at the point of transaction.
Users might hold Bitcoin as a long-term asset, but when they go to pay, the app could instantly convert a portion of Bitcoin into local currency or a stable-denominated amount. On the back end, Lightning payments or similar tools can still use Bitcoin as the settlement asset.
This model is already emerging in various Bitcoin wallets and payment apps, and Block has the scale to refine and popularize it. If apps can abstract away the volatility while preserving the benefits of Bitcoin as a settlement network, everyday use becomes far more realistic.
Education and mindset shifts
Volatility is not just a technical issue; it is a psychological barrier. Many people still see Bitcoin exclusively as a speculative asset. For Bitcoin to become everyday money, Block must also invest in education, clear messaging, and intuitive design that show users how and why to spend or move their Bitcoin.
As tools improve and Bitcoin payments become more seamless, people may become more comfortable using small portions of their holdings for daily needs, especially in regions where local currencies are even more volatile than Bitcoin.
Regulatory and compliance challenges
No discussion of Bitcoin as everyday money is complete without addressing regulation. Governments around the world are still defining their stance on cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and Bitcoin payments.
Navigating global rules
Block operates in multiple jurisdictions, each with its own tax rules, anti-money laundering requirements, and licensing frameworks. To make Bitcoin spending easy and legal, Block must navigate this complex regulatory landscape.
In some countries, every time you spend Bitcoin, you may owe capital gains tax, because it is treated as property, not currency. This makes routine Bitcoin payments cumbersome. Unless regulations shift to treat Bitcoin more like foreign currency, mass adoption as everyday money will face friction.
Block cannot directly control regulation, but it can: Design products that simplify tax reporting and compliance. Structure transactions in ways that minimize user complexity Work with policymakers and industry groups to advocate for clear, fair rules around Bitcoin payments.
Trust, security, and consumer protection
For everyday people to adopt Bitcoin money, they must trust not only the underlying network but also the apps that manage their funds. Block’s reputation as a payments and commerce company gives it an advantage here. If it can combine strong security, transparent policies, and intuitive user interfaces, it can help users feel safe holding and spending Bitcoin through its platforms.
Competition and the broader crypto landscape
Block is not alone in trying to bridge the gap between crypto and everyday finance. Exchanges, fintech apps, and even traditional banks are rolling out Bitcoin wallets, cards, and payment features.
Competing with exchanges and neobanks
Major cryptocurrency exchanges offer debit cards, yield products, and merchant tools that allow users to spend Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. At the same time, neobanks and fintech startups integrate Bitcoin buying and selling as an optional feature.
Block’s advantage lies in its integrated ecosystem: seller tools, Cash App, developer platforms, and Bitcoin-focused R&D all under one umbrella. If Block can tie these pieces together—so that merchants, consumers, and developers all benefit from Bitcoin-based experiences—it can differentiate itself from single-purpose platforms.
Altcoins, stablecoins, and CBDCs
Another factor is the rise of stablecoins and potential central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).CBDCs, if launched widely, could provide a government-backed digital alternative for everyday payments. The question is whether Bitcoin can compete as everyday money against these more price-stable options. Block’s bet is that the openness, neutrality, and decentralization of Bitcoin give it a unique long-term edge that centrally controlled digital money cannot match. Its mission is to build the tools that make that edge accessible to real people in everyday situations.
So, will Block succeed in turning Bitcoin into everyday money?
Block’s mission to turn Bitcoin into everyday money is ambitious, complex, and long-term. Success will not happen overnight, and it depends on factors both within and beyond Block’s control. On the positive side: Block has millions of users through Cash App, giving it a powerful distribution channel for Bitcoin payments and services. Its dedicated Bitcoin division, Spiral, is investing in Lightning Network and infrastructure, which are essential for scaling everyday transactions. TBD is exploring decentralized finance, identity, and global access, which could open up entirely new use cases for Bitcoin in daily life. The company’s Bitcoin-first philosophy aligns its products, culture, and strategy around one clear goal, instead of chasing every new crypto trend.
On the challenging side: Bitcoin volatility, complex regulations, tax rules, and user perceptions still limit its usefulness as day-to-day money. Competition from stablecoins, exchanges, and traditional financial institutions is intense. Global policy decisions around crypto and digital assets could speed up or slow down Bitcoin’s path to everyday use.
In reality, Block may not need Bitcoin to replace local currencies entirely to consider its mission a success. If it can help make Bitcoin a normal part of everyday financial life—used for savings, transfers, remittances, micro-payments, and certain purchases—that alone would be a major shift from where we are today. Ultimately, Block is one of the most important companies pushing Bitcoin toward practical, everyday use. Whether it fully succeeds depends on technology, regulation, competition, and user behavior. But if any major fintech company has both the vision and infrastructure to move Bitcoin from speculation to daily utility, Block is certainly on the shortlist. Will Block succeed.
Conclusion
Block’s mission to turn Bitcoin into everyday money is reshaping how people think about both Bitcoin and modern finance. Through Cash App, Spiral, and TBD, the company is tackling the biggest barriers to Bitcoin adoption: usability, scalability, access, and trust. While serious obstacles remain—especially volatility and regulation—Block is building the tools, infrastructure, and experiences that could gradually transform Bitcoin from a niche investment into a practical financial tool. Whether it achieves the full vision or not, its efforts are likely to accelerate the integration of Bitcoin into everyday life around the world. For now, Bitcoin remains both digital gold and a potential everyday currency, and Block is right at the center of that evolution.
FAQs
Q. What does it mean to turn Bitcoin into everyday money?
>>>>>Turning Bitcoin into everyday money means making it practical for regular transactions, such as buying goods and services, sending remittances, or paying friends, in addition to holding it as a store of value. It requires low fees, fast payments, easy-to-use apps, and clear rules so that ordinary people can use Bitcoin payments without needing deep technical knowledge.
Q. How does Cash App help Bitcoin become more mainstream?
Cash App acts as a simple on-ramp for Bitcoin adoption. It lets users buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin with just a few taps, and it also supports peer-to-peer Bitcoin transfers.
Q. What is the Lightning Network, and why is it important?
The Lightning Network is a second-layer technology built on top of Bitcoin that enables fast, low-cost transactions. Instead of using the main blockchain for every payment, Lightning lets users open channels and transact almost instantly. This is crucial for everyday Bitcoin payments, such as small purchases and microtransactions, where speed and low fees matter. Will Block succeed.
Q. Why does Block focus mainly on Bitcoin instead of other cryptocurrencies?
Block follows a Bitcoin-first strategy because it sees Bitcoin as the most secure, decentralized, and widely recognized digital asset. By focusing on Bitcoin, Block can build a deep, coherent ecosystem of products and tools rather than spreading its efforts across many different cryptocurrencies. This focus aligns with its mission to help Bitcoin become everyday money.
Q. What are the biggest obstacles to using Bitcoin as everyday money?
The main obstacles are price volatility, regulatory and tax complexity, scalability, and user experience. Bitcoin’s price can change rapidly, making it awkward for pricing goods; some countries treat every transaction as a taxable event; and the technical aspects of wallets and keys can be confusing. Block is trying to overcome these barriers with better infrastructure, intuitive apps, and Bitcoin-powered financial services that hide complexity from the user while leveraging Bitcoin’s strengths behind the scenes. Will Block succeed.
