Who needs a 3% card fee?
Traditional card payments are expensive for small merchants - fees often exceed 1½-2% of the sale value, and transactions on foreign‑issued cards can cost around 2.5%. When the median profit margin for an Australian small business is only ≈5% and average net margins range from 7-10%, paying two percent in fees means handing over a large share of your hard‑earned profit.
Bitcoin payments can be processed via the Lightning Network with negligible fees and no intermediaries.
Why accept bitcoin?
Instant settlement
Bitcoin payments over the Lightning Network settle almost instantly. Off‑chain payment channels allow high‑volume, low‑fee transfers, so money reaches you in seconds rather than days. Payment processors like OpenNode even offer near‑instant settlement and automatic conversion to local currencies.
No fraud or chargebacks
Bitcoin transactions are final. Each transaction is recorded on a public blockchain and cannot be reversed, eliminating chargebacks and the associated fraud risk. Payment processors emphasise that accepting bitcoin means saying goodbye to fraud and chargebacks.
Virtually no fees
Lightning transactions carry very low network fees, and some processors offer zero processing fees for a promotional period. For example, Square's U.S. rollout of Bitcoin payments allows merchants to accept bitcoin with no processing fees until 2027.
Protect your margin
Small businesses in Australia typically operate on slim profit margins. The median operating profit margin is only about 5%, and a 2024 benchmark shows many small businesses have net margins under 10%. Card payment fees ranging from 1.5-2% for domestic cards and around 2.5% for foreign cards can erode a third of your profit. Accepting bitcoin allows you to keep more of what you earn.
Get on the map
Get discovered by customers who want to pay with bitcoin. Adding your business to the Bitcoin map helps travellers and locals find you and shows you are part of a growing community.
Accepting bitcoin with Square
Square (a subsidiary of Block) has integrated bitcoin directly into its point‑of‑sale system for U.S. merchants. From 10 November 2025, roughly 4 million U.S. Square merchants can accept bitcoin payments directly in their terminals. Key features include:
- No processing fees until 2027. Merchants can accept bitcoin with zero fees during the launch period.
- Instant payments. Transactions use the Lightning Network for near‑instant settlement.
- Flexible payout options. Sellers can receive funds as bitcoin or automatically convert some or all of the sale to fiat currency.
- No chargebacks. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible.
Currently, Square's bitcoin payments are available only in the United States. If you'd like this feature in Australia, you can help by either signing the petition or reaching out to Square directly via their social media.
Option 1: Sign the Petition
Join others in signing the petition to urge Square to bring bitcoin features to Australian devices.
Sign the PetitionOption 2: Contact Square Directly
Reach out to Square on social media and let them know you want bitcoin payments in Australia. Tag them in a post or send them a message.
Accepting bitcoin over the counter
Australian merchants already have several point‑of‑sale (POS) options that enable lightning‑fast bitcoin payments. Most POS apps integrate with your existing phone or tablet, so you don't need special hardware. They generate a Lightning invoice and display a QR code for customers to scan; payments are instant and often cost only a few satoshis.
Wallet of Satoshi
A popular Lightning wallet that also works as a POS system. It's Australian‑owned and available for Android and iOS. Customers pay via QR code; merchants can quickly send funds to their bank or keep them in bitcoin.
Bitaroo POS
Bitaroo offers a POS app for Android and iOS that lets merchants accept bitcoin over the Lightning Network. Bitaroo is an Australian exchange with local support.
IBEX Pay
An international Lightning payment processor that provides POS hardware and web apps for accepting bitcoin. Settlements can be in bitcoin or converted to fiat.
Blink
A payment provider offering a simple interface to accept bitcoin payments on‑site or online.
Team
Meet the team
Get to know the crew helping Aussie businesses embrace bitcoin.
Accepting bitcoin online
If you run an ecommerce site or invoice clients online, several platforms can help you accept bitcoin. These solutions provide easy integration, flexible settlement options, and support for multiple currencies.
BTCPay Server
A free, open‑source, non‑custodial payment processor that allows you to accept bitcoin directly into your own wallet. It can be integrated into websites, WooCommerce stores, and subscription platforms.
opennode
A payment platform where businesses can accept or send Bitcoin payments instantly via the Lightning Network or on-chain, with minimal fees and no chargebacks. It offers secure hosted checkout pages, payment buttons, ecommerce plug-ins and APIs, allowing merchants to accept Bitcoin globally and convert it to local currency if desired.
Need help?
Contact our team for more advice
Speak directly with one of our team for tailored guidance on accepting bitcoin and being on the map. We're here to help Australian retailers take advantage of internet money.