You may be holding, or hodling, bitcoin, trading them against dollar, euro, pound, or yen, and looking in disbelief how a once hyped cryptocurrency has lost over 50% of its value within a few months. Thus the world of the speculative bitcoin. Then again, it was invented as an alternative currency to existing government-issued currencies. As the only real use for currencies is to exchange them for products and services, why not use your bitcoin to start using them in the manner for which they were originally created: to purchase something.
The question remains: where can you use your bitcoins? What can you actually buy with cryptocurrency? Are there any stores that accept bitcoin, litecoin, or all the other cryptocurrencies? Indeed, while payments in bitcoin, though much more than any other cryptocurrency, are not that wide spread yet, and some stores and companies have even stopped accepting bitcoins, there are a number of retailers, traveling companies, bars, and others that accept bitcin as a payment.
Below a list of vendors that accept bitcoin. From retailers that will sell you their products in exchange for bitcoin, flight tickets that you can pay with bitcoin, and bars and pubs that will serve you for bitcoin.
Retailers
Overstock
One of the major online retailers that accepts bitcoin is Overstock. You can buy products from kitchen equipment to clothing on their website and pay with cryptocurrency.
Newegg
If you are looking to buy a new computer, smartphone such as Apple or Samsung, or other gadget, Newegg offers the option to pay with bitcoin.
Shopify stores
The e-commerce platform with thousands of small merchants, similar to Etsy, offers the option to deal in bitcoin.
Reeds Jewelers
Do you fancy a new set of earrings or a necklace for your loved one? If you are on the hunt for new jewelery, Reeds Jewelers accepts bitcoin.
BTC City
This Slovenian mall is testing bitcoin as a means of payment, but you will only be able to pay with bitcoin in a few stores.
Le Passage du Bitcoin
This French high street in the 2nd arrondissement in Paris is one of its kind in that all its businesses accept bitcoin.
Gift cards
eGifter
If you fancy buying products from any site that does not yet accept bitcoin as a payment, you can buy a gift card carrying a dollar value with bitcoin and go shopping on any of the over 250 retailers from adidas to Apple, Target to Amazon.
gyft
Another website that gives you the opportunity you to purchase gift cards with bitcoin is gyft. From Sephora to CVS pharmacy, Macy's to Delta, by buying one of their gift cards in bitcoin, you can go shopping at over 200 retailers.
Travel
CheapAir
Ever considered buying a flight with bitcoin. It is now possible at CheapAir who use coinbase as their exchange reference when calculating the cost of your flight.
AirBaltic
If you prefer to buy your flight in bitcoin directly from an airline, AirBaltic offers the option to pay for your flights with bitcoin. You can, however, only buy basic tickets with bitcoin.
Hotels
Expedia
You can pay for your hotel on Expedia. Booking a flight or rental car is still not possible to pay in bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency.
Bars
These pubs and bars accept bitcoin in the UK
Green Milk Comedy, London
Tap and Spile, Guisborough
Pembury Tavern, London Hackney
Royal Dick, Edinburgh
S7ven, Coventry
Daddy Cools, Coventry
This cafe accept cryptocurrency in Ireland
Crypto Cafe, Dublin (accepts Litecoin and Etherum)
These pubs and bars accept bitcoin in the USA
Lean Crust Pizza, New York
Le Village, New York
Old Man Hustle, New York
The French Press Cafe & Creperie, New York
EVR NYC, New York
Kavasutra Kava Bar, New York
Yeras Restaurant Sports Bar, New York
These pubs and bars accept bitcoin in France
Sof's Bar, Paris
Nagatomi, Paris
La Guama Arepa Cafe, Lille
These pubs and bars accept bitcoin in Germany
Leuchtstoff Kaffeebar, Berlin (also accepts Ethereum)
Das Baumhaus, Berlin
Room 77, Berlin
Osteria Blu Notte, Munich
Restaurants
PizzaForCoins
You can search for a participating pizza place on their website. If one is in your area, you can order your pizza and pay in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Lieferando
You can order your food online, have it delivered, and pay in bitcoin – how much more virtual can it get?
Technology
Microsoft
You can add bitcoin to your Microsoft account and purchase games, movies, and apps in both the Windows and Xbox store. However, paying with bitcoin does not work in the Microsoft online store. Using bitcoin to buy products from Microsoft is also only available in some countries.
Miscellaneous
Dish
The satellite television and internet provider accepts bitcoin as a payment method.
This is only a short list of all the places that accept bitcoin. Currently it looks as bitcoin is at a crossroads. There don't appear too many new big companies offering the option to pay in bitcoin. Many, such as Rakuten or Reddit, have even stopped accepting bitcoin. Let's hope that more will jump on the bandwaggon for bitcoin to succeed as a means of payment.
For more information, check out Coinmap (https://coinmap.org/welcome/). Their map shows you the places where you can spend your bitcoins. Here a more comprehensive list of places that accept bitcoins.
If you have any cool places that accept bitcoin and want them included, just leave a comment.
