How Many People Actually Pay With Bitcoin? Real Use Cases Revealed
Bitcoin was originally conceived as digital money, but widespread everyday usage for purchases remains limited. Measuring Bitcoin payments is difficult due to fragmented data, indirect usage through intermediaries, and the rise of stablecoins for crypto transactions. Surveys indicate that a minority of crypto holders—typically less than 40%—have used their assets for purchases, but this does not specify Bitcoin or frequent usage. In El Salvador, where Bitcoin became legal tender, most citizens and businesses rarely use it for daily transactions; legal status alone did not boost adoption. Payment processors show that crypto payments are increasing, especially for cross-border and high-value transactions, but stablecoins now account for most merchant activity, not Bitcoin. The Lightning Network enables small, low-cost Bitcoin payments but is hard to measure, as activity often occurs off-chain. Overall, Bitcoin is primarily used for transactions where traditional finance is inefficient—such as international remittances or donations—rather than as everyday consumer money. Greater adoption will depend on user-friendly apps and evolving infrastructure that reduce friction at checkout.
