How to Quickly and Securely Pay with Bitcoin & Crypto

Whether you want to pay for your a new car with crypto or you’re a business owner looking to use crypto to remit merchant invoices, spending cryptocurrency has never been easier. Ahead, we’ll go over the key things to know about quickly and securely paying with crypto, no matter what kind of user you are.

How to pay with crypto

Before paying with crypto, you must have some in a wallet. Creating a crypto wallet is relatively straight, with different types of wallets ideal for every type of user, from complete newbies to seasoned power users. After you create a wallet, then you'll need to acquire cryptocurrency to spend. This can be done by buying your assets or having a friend send them to your wallet address.

Once you've acquired a crypto wallet with funds, the five main ways of paying with crypto include:

• Pay a merchant who accepts crypto payments
• Make a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment from your wallet directly to another wallet
• Use a crypto debit card to convert crypto to cash
• Use a solution like BitPay Bill Pay to make bill payments with Bitcoin
• Buy gift cards with crypto to use at popular brands and retailers

Paying a merchant invoice from your wallet

Thousands of businesses across the world accept cryptocurrency payments directly from your wallet. BitPay is the world’s top crypto payments processor, providing both customers and merchants with the freedom and flexibility to make and accept crypto payments from any wallet they choose. In all, BitPay supports more than 100 crypto wallets and hundreds of the top cryptocurrencies. Our BitPay Protocol does away with payment exceptions like over or underpayments, late payments and double spends, ensuring the smoothest and safest experience possible. Check out our Merchant Directory for a curated list of partner merchants that accept crypto through BitPay.

How to pay with crypto from your wallet

Paying a crypto invoice from your crypto wallet takes only a few simple steps.

Step 1: At checkout, select BitPay as your payment method.

BitPay is the safest and most secure way to pay online.

Step 2: Select Begin Payment.

Depending on the merchant you are paying or the transaction amount, you may be prompted to verify for BitPay ID. Don't have a BitPay ID? Sign up to get started. BitPay ID is a simple way to manage your payments information with BitPay and simplify logins for multiple BitPay products. All that is required is an email and password. The one-time verification requirement is for people making BitPay merchant or prepaid payments of $3,000+, initiating refund requests for amounts of $1000+, or receiving BitPay payouts.

Step 3: Select your wallet.

BitPay supports over 100 of the most popular cryptocurrency wallets, including all wallets supported by Wallet Connect 2.0.

Step 4: Select your cryptocurrency.

Once you've connected your wallet, BitPay will automatically display available assets that can be used to pay a BitPay invoice. BitPay supports payments with over 100 of the most popular cryptocurrencies. Don’t see your preferred coin or token? Either BitPay hasn't added support for that asset, or the merchant has chosen not to accept it.

Step 5: Pay the invoice

If using the BitPay Wallet to make a payment, you can choose to select “Pay in Wallet”. An invoice will be generated in your Wallet app from which you can complete the payment. Alternatively, scan the QR code with your wallet app or input the merchant’s receiving wallet info manually into your wallet to complete the transaction.You'll see the payment reflected on the invoice instantly once you validate the payment in your wallet. Remember to send your payment during the 15-minute payment window.

Making a P2P payment to or from any wallet

In keeping true to Bitcoin’s origins as a fast and secure vehicle for sending or receiving value between users, peer-to-peer (P2P) payments are easy to initiate through any reliable wallet provider. Payments can be made online or in-person. You’ll just need a few pieces of information before you can get started paying someone with crypto.

How to make a P2P crypto payment

Step 1: Open your wallet
(Don’t have a wallet? Download the BitPay Wallet. It is safe, secure and free!)

Step 2: Input a wallet address or scan a QR code if in person (note: be certain to double and triple check that the address is correct. Remember, it is safe to share your wallet address, but never share your private key or recovery phrase!)

Step 3: Enter the amount of the transaction and the specific cryptocurrency being used

Step 4: Confirm all transaction details

Step 5: Verify that the transaction went through using your wallet or a block explorer

Paying with a crypto debit card

For the crypto consumer on the go, a crypto debit card like the BitPay Card is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to spend your holdings, whether you’re shopping online or in-person. All you have to do is load up your BitPay Card with the crypto of your choice and you’re ready to spend it like cash anywhere in the world Mastercard is accepted. You can even earn cash back rewards on purchases. Download the app to get started, then apply for your BitPay Card and receive approval in minutes. Once you’re approved you’re ready to start spending!

How to load and pay with a crypto debit card

Follow these 5 steps to unlock the spending power of a crypto debit card:

Step 1: Be sure you have an active wallet in the BitPay app with a positive crypto balance

Step 2: Get the BitPay Card (apply and get approved in minutes, no credit check required)

Step 3: Tap the card icon from the app home screen

Step 4: Load the card using your preferred cryptocurrency

Step 5: Use the card as you would any other debit card - in-person, online or at an ATM

Pay bills with BitPay Bill Pay

Pay bills easily using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for everything from credit cards to mortgages, directly from your wallet, bypassing banks and wires. Use the BitPay app or website to start making payments with BitPay Bill Pay.

Steps to paying bills with Bitcoin

Step 1: Set Up Your Wallet: Download the BitPay app for Android or iOS devices and create a self-custody wallet. You can also import wallets/keys from other popular self-custody wallet applications like Metamask, Exodus, Trust Wallet, and Coinbase Wallet. Alternatively, you can use the BitPay website by logging into your BitPay account and navigating to the Bill Pay tab.

Step 2: Connect Your Accounts: In the BitPay app, tap the “Pay” tab and then “Bills”. If you're a new BitPay user, you'll need to provide basic KYC (Know Your Customer) information to connect your billing accounts to your crypto wallet. On the BitPay website, follow the instructions on the Bill Pay tab to add your bills.

Step 3: Pay Your Bills with Cryptocurrency: Once your bills are connected, you'll see details like provider, due date, and balance in the app. Select your bills, tap “Pay Bill”, enter the amount you wish to pay, choose your preferred cryptocurrency, and confirm the payment.

Learn more about paying practically any bill with cryptocurrency.

Buy gift cards with crypto to use practically anywhere

The three methods of paying with crypto outlined above should already cover you in most spending situations you can imagine, but there is still another way to pay using crypto. Did you know you can buy gift cards using crypto from hundreds of leading companies and brands like Mastercard, The Home Depot, Best Buy, Airbnb, Hotels.com and Delta Airlines?

If you’re not sure whether a crypto debit card is right for you, or if your favorite merchant doesn’t accept direct crypto payments, you can still spend crypto just like cash by purchasing gift cards through the BitPay app or the BitPay extension for Google Chrome. Once you’ve obtained the gift card of your choice, you’re free to use it just like you would any other digital gift card – use it right away, save it for later, or share with friends and family.

How to buy gift cards with crypto via BitPay

Gift cards are another easy way to spend your crypto at some of the world’s most popular brands, even if they don’t accept crypto payments. Just follow a few easy steps for buying gift cards with crypto via BitPay.

Step 1: Download the BitPay App or Chrome extension

Step 2: Choose a gift card and merchant

Step 3: Select your amount

Step 4: Pay for the gift card using your preferred wallet and cryptocurrency

Step 5: Receive your gift card instantly and start spending!

Benefits of using crypto to make payments

Whether you’re a consumer or a merchant, there are multiple benefits to making Bitcoin payments or paying with other cryptocurrencies.

For starters, cryptocurrency holders are able to make secure, low-cost financial transactions without a bank intermediary. Routing such transactions through a traditional institution like a bank often carries hefty service or wire fees, especially when sending or receiving money from overseas. Bank transfers can take several days or more to complete, while crypto payments usually take only minutes. Because crypto transactions are largely anonymous, you’re able to conduct business without the need to reveal any personal information, which appeals to more privacy-minded crypto users. Crypto transactions are also secure, and virtually impossible to alter or interfere with, which reduces the risk of fraud even when sending money to a total stranger.

FAQs about quickly and securely paying with crypto

So far we’ve covered many of the convenient ways you can spend crypto through BitPay, but it’s possible you may have some lingering questions. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about making secure crypto payments.

Which cryptocurrencies can I use to buy things?

The answer to this will vary. Larger and more established payments services providers like BitPay will usually support many of the top cryptocurrencies by market cap, which should cover the needs of most crypto users. This includes the most popular coins and tokens like Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE) and stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC). However, if you’re looking to spend smaller or more niche coins or tokens, you’ll typically need to use direct P2P payments.

Where can I pay with cryptocurrency?

Thousands of merchants around the world accept direct crypto payments. When you include those that accept gift cards or debit cards, the number of stores and brands that allow you to make purchases using crypto grows to the millions. Search BitPay’s Merchant Directory to see which of your favorite merchants accept direct crypto payments or offer gift cards you can buy through the BitPay app. With a crypto debit card like the BitPay Card, you can spend crypto practically anywhere.

What can I buy with cryptocurrency?

These days if you can think of it, you can probably buy it with cryptocurrency in one way or another. From plane tickets to smartphones, cars to real estate, you can get it all with crypto thanks to BitPay’s extensive network of partners across industries and sectors. Looking for a more complete list of the things you can buy with crypto? Check out our crypto spending guide.

Can I pay friends and family with cryptocurrency?

Yes you can! In fact, direct P2P transactions are the easiest and most direct way to pay friends and family with crypto. All you need is their crypto wallet address and you can send money to anybody quickly and easily.

What fees do I pay when I pay via crypto?

Depending on which method you use, you will pay a small fee to make a crypto payment. The transactions will vary based on which crypto you use, the service provider, the merchant and market conditions. Learn more about fees and how you can pay less of them while making crypto transactions.