From your morning coffee to first-class flights: where you can spend your Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP in 2025
Remember when cryptocurrency was just for experts? But by 2025, that’s not true at all. People are using digital money more and more for everyday shopping, exciting travel plans and even those dream luxury purchases. If you have Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) or XRP, you might be surprised at how many places you can use them in.
This isn’t just about big tech firms anymore. We’re talking about everything from your local coffee shop and favorite fast-food joints to major airlines and high-end retailers. Thanks to innovative apps and third-party processors, spending your crypto is becoming as easy as using a debit card. Businesses are finding simple ways to accept these digital currencies, often converting them instantly to regular money to avoid any market jitters and keep things compliant.
Why these three cryptocurrencies in particular? Well, BTC, ETH, and XRP have really cemented their places in the digital economy. Bitcoin is widely recognized as a reliable store of value, Ether powers a vast ecosystem of smart contracts, and XRP shines with its lightning-fast settlement times for international transfers. Together, they offer businesses a powerful blend of trust, functionality, and speed.
Your daily dose of crypto: coffee, snacks, and shopping
For many people interested in cryptocurrency, the best test is to use Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) or XRP in everyday situations, like buying a coffee or groceries. XRP is often used for cross-border payments, while Bitcoin and Ether are used more often for everyday transactions.
- Coffee Shops and Eateries: Paying for your latte with crypto isn’t science fiction anymore. Major chains and independent spots alike have adopted it. Heading to Starbucks? You can grab a Bitrefill gift card and pay with Ether or Bitcoin for that caramel macchiato. Convenience stores are in on it too; Sheetz, for example, accepts BTC, ETH, and other coins directly at the checkout. And if you’re an XRP fan, online directories can guide you to smaller eateries happy to trade your tokens for tacos or burgers.
- Restaurants and Fast Food: In crypto-friendly areas, you might find select McDonald’s locations accepting Bitcoin via payment apps. Across Europe and the US, chains like Subway and Burger King continue to welcome crypto payments, often facilitated through gift card services or third-party processors. It might not always be a direct, in-house integration, but it makes spending your Bitcoin straightforward. In a notable step, Steak ‘n Shake rolled out BTC payments nationwide in May 2025, even crediting it with an 11% sales boost by drawing in tech-savvy customers. Chipotle and Baskin-Robbins have also joined the party through BitPay, letting you fund your burrito bowl or ice cream scoop with ETH, BTC, or XRP.
- Retail and Online Stores: Paying bills with crypto is also a thing. AT&T allows you to settle phone bills with ETH or BTC, helping you avoid those annoying late fees. Many online stores, and even some physical ones, accept XRP through gateways like CoinGate. Big tech is on board too: Microsoft accepts BTC directly or via processors, Newegg supports ETH for purchases, and Overstock welcomes XRP. Even AMC Theatres accepts Bitcoin and other digital assets for everything from movie tickets to Xbox content. Beyond these giants, platforms like Shopify have democratized crypto payments, making it simple for millions of small and medium-sized businesses to add a crypto checkout option. Need to spruce up your home? Major retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ikea accept crypto through Bitrefill and BitPay gift cards, so you can literally use ETH to finance your renovation project.
Dream big: travel and luxury with crypto
As crypto adoption matures, it’s extending to bigger ticket items. Many travel services and airlines are now offering bookings directly or through intermediaries using BTC, ETH, and sometimes XRP. Travel sites like Travala.com let you book flights and hotels with a wide array of digital assets, including BTC and ETH.
Excitingly, Emirates is set to let flyers snag first-class seats with digital currency, eliminating the hassle of foreign exchange. The UAE’s luxury airline will partner with Crypto.com for this. In Europe, AirBaltic has been a pioneer, accepting crypto since 2014 and processing thousands of transactions.
Even high-end brands and luxury car dealerships are now using crypto. In the US, Post Oak Motor Cars accepts Bitcoin via BitPay for super-luxury car purchases. Across Europe, companies like BitCars have created online marketplaces that only sell crypto-based cars. Well-known brands like Gucci and Ralph Lauren have been offering crypto payments at some of their shops, especially for their most exclusive collections.
Did you know? Alternative Airlines is a fantastic example, supporting over 600 airlines globally and allowing payments with more than 100 cryptocurrencies, including XRP!
Beyond consumers: financial services and corporate holdings
BTC, ETH and XRP are most useful when we look at how they are used in the basic payment infrastructure, by institutions, for money transfers and by companies.
- Remittances and Cross-Border Payments: This is where XRP often truly excels. Its consensus-based ledger and Ripple’s infrastructure are specifically designed for faster, lower-cost international transfers. Businesses like Mercury FX and Cuallix have successfully adopted or trialed XRP for these purposes.
- Payment Processors: To minimize exposure to price volatility, businesses are increasingly turning to platforms like PayPal, BitPay, and NOWPayments to accept crypto. PayPal, in particular, has opened the door for retailers to handle over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP.
- Corporate Holdings: A growing number of companies, such as BitMine, SharpLink Gaming, and VivoPower, are now including cryptocurrencies in their treasury portfolios. They do this for strategic reasons, to hedge against inflation, or to deepen their involvement in the evolving crypto market.
Making crypto acceptance easier for small businesses
So, how can even more small businesses get on board with accepting crypto? The answer lies in making the technology more user-friendly and fostering a more supportive financial ecosystem.
- Pick a Reliable Payment Processor: Services like BitPay, Coinbase Commerce, and CoinGate streamline crypto payment integration for small businesses, even those without extensive technical know-how. They also instantly convert cryptocurrencies into fiat, removing the headache of price fluctuations.
- Simplify Compliance: Automated tax reporting systems and clearer, more open regulatory frameworks can significantly reduce the financial and legal burdens on small business owners.
- Embrace Variety: Once technical hurdles are lowered and compliance is simplified, businesses can confidently accept a wider array of cryptocurrencies, meeting their customers wherever they choose to transact.
Conclusion
What started as something that was just thought of as a digital curiosity has quickly turned into a useful financial tool. It is now used in everyday shopping and high-end transactions. As we move into 2025, it’s clear that Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP are no longer just things to hold on to, but currencies that can be spent – whether it’s for a morning coffee, a first-class flight, or even a luxury car. This is a big change, made possible by payment systems that are easy to use and a growing understanding of how useful crypto is. Cryptocurrencies are making wealth management more open, challenging traditional financial systems, and changing how businesses and people interact with money around the world. It is becoming more convenient, it is being supported by institutions and the world of digital payments is just beginning to use all of its potential.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article, “From Your Morning Coffee to First-Class Flights: Where You Can Spend Your Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP in 2025,” is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as financial advice, an endorsement, or a recommendation to utilize any specific cryptocurrency or payment service mentioned. IronWallet does not encourage or advocate for the use of any particular services or platforms described herein. Our aim is solely to inform our readers about the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency adoption, its current availability, and the capabilities of various digital assets and payment solutions. Users should conduct their own thorough research and exercise due diligence before engaging with any cryptocurrency or related service.
