New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Bitcoin is the world's largest cryptocurrency by trading volume and the most popular cryptocurrency among traders and investors. But did you know that Bitcoin is also one of the most used digital assets for online payments? Many people also use it for international purchases.
However, while these are quite normal, there are some unexpected places where people spend Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that you probably wouldn't think of if you were asked. These locations are heavily dependent on fiat currencies, but they've started adopting crypto into their systems.
Top Unexpected Places to Spend Bitcoin
As the number of crypto users worldwide increases, it's no surprise that many businesses are incorporating crypto-related solutions into their products and services. Here are six places where you'd typically not expect Bitcoin payments to exist:
Pizza Stores
If there's one thing Bitcoin Pizza Day tells us, it's that crypto users can buy pizza with Bitcoin. In 2010, a year after Bitcoin was created, a computer programmer bought two boxes of pizza with a whopping 10,000 Bitcoins (BTC).
Fair to him, though. The coins were valued at about $41 at the time. Nonetheless, pizza was one of the earliest items purchased using Bitcoin. Spending 10,000 BTC on food today sounds ridiculous. However, the act paved the way for using Bitcoin as a payment method in the conventional world.
That's why it's not surprising to see pizza companies accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies from their customers - either through direct payments using cryptocurrency cards or Bitcoin wallets. For instance, Pizza Hut, Papa John's, and Domino's allow people to buy Pizza gift cards with their crypto wallets and exchange them for their favorite pizzas.
Funeral Homes
When thinking of where to spend Bitcoin, a funeral home isn't one of the top options that come to mind. However, some funeral companies indeed accept Bitcoin payments from their clients.
While losing a loved one can be emotionally and financially draining, people can still give their deceased family member a befitting burial with their crypto funds.
For instance, instead of running around to get the huge amount required to organize the burial, a crypto holder can pay Bitcoin directly into the funeral home's crypto wallet.
In other cases, they can instantly convert the BTC in their wallet to fiat money using a crypto card to pay at their payment terminal. The payment gateway will execute the conversion, and the business will receive their funds in USD, GBP, JPY or other currencies they prefer.
A funeral home in Minnesota is particularly famous for Bitcoin payments. It has been accepting crypto payments for its burial services since 2017, and many other businesses in the funeral space have followed suit.
If you don't have emergency burial funds saved in your bank account but hold some BTC in your crypto wallet or card, you can use the Bitcoin payment option.
All you have to do is transfer the equivalent amount of crypto from your wallet to theirs or use a prepaid card like the Zypto Crypto Card at their payment terminal.
Cinemas
Another unusual place to spend Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is the movie cinema. Most cinemas accept fiat majorly, but some of them are already up to date with Bitcoin payments.
The ones who have caught up with crypto accept Bitcoin directly using point of sales (POS) terminals, while some integrate crypto payment gateways into their websites to facilitate direct online payments.
Regardless of your preferred option, you can buy movie tickets and other items at supporting movies using Bitcoin.
Churches
Most churches still accept donations, offerings, and tithes in fiat currencies only. However, some have changed the status quo. Many religious bodies now accept crypto assets from their members and well-wishers, allowing them to send Bitcoin for huge payments instead of using actual money.
A good example of churches that allow people to spend Bitcoin is The Church of St. John the Evangelist. Based in New York, the church requested crypto donations in 2013, becoming arguably the earliest to do so.
Since then, many other churches have followed suit because of the anonymity cryptocurrency transactions offer. That way, whatever gifts or donations people have are anonymous and discreet.
So, whether you're a donor who wants to maintain a low profile or a religious member looking to keep your contributions lowkey, Bitcoin is a decent option to consider.
Dating Sites
They say love can happen anywhere, but not many thought it would happen in crypto. Many people are now finding their soulmates using Bitcoin payments on dating apps. Usually, these platforms are free. However, they limit some features to only paid customers.
Such users get full access to their features and can improve their chances of finding a potential match. For instance, some dating apps allow only paid users to view the people who matched with them, and they can send direct messages without any limitations.
Payments for such access can be processed using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on some dating platforms, creating another unusual location to spend Bitcoin.
Plastic Surgery Clinics
You probably never thought of Bitcoin being used to pay for plastic surgery. However, this is a reality. Not many cosmetic surgeons accept Bitcoin payments, but a decent number of those who do reside in California.
As the world's biggest tech hub, the Golden State is home to numerous blockchain and crypto startups that help businesses plug in crypto solutions into their businesses. So, there are a couple of plastic surgery clinics that collaborate with crypto firms to accept Bitcoin payments.
Though Bitcoin payment in conventional businesses is still on course to grow, these plastic surgeons have embraced what many experts describe as the future of payments and money. Thankfully, they have crypto startups to help adjust and scale without any hassles.
Conclusion
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are helping businesses develop modern payment solutions to receive money from anywhere in the world. These include crypto cards and wallets that help users spend, receive, and manage crypto.
We've highlighted some uncommon places where people spend Bitcoin in this article. So, it's time to start thinking beyond e-commerce platforms and crypto casinos and embracing the use of Bitcoin in various other industries.
