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A friend of mine was telling a funny story about how, during her visit to Switzerland, she saw a label on the front door of a restaurant indicating that you could also pay with crypto. She turned to her friends and smiled: “What a creative marketing tactic.” Then she realized that it wasn’t just a tactic – the restaurant really did accept crypto. Gone are the days when these currencies were used only for investment through a mobile app or a digital currency trader.
Today, industry after industry is trying to adopt new methods of payment for the sake of a better customer experience. In this article, we explore more about this adoption and explain what influences the food industry to be open to accepting cryptocurrencies.
The influence? Gaming, obviously.
One big reason you might soon pay for dinner with Bitcoin is the gaming industry, especially online gaming, that has been experimenting crypto payments successfully and becoming an influence for other industries as well. We can examine the appeal of crypto slots in online casinos as an example. I was reviewing the variety of options that offer people to play crypto slots at Bovada (one of the major gaming platforms), trying to understand the key factor that made these games convenient, and it turns out, one major thing is the immediate payments. Thanks to crypto, by the way.
Probably, this is probably the reason why more and more online gambling payments are now made with cryptocurrency, making it the fastest-growing segment in the gaming sector. Online gamers discovered that depositing funds with Bitcoin or other coins is almost instantaneous and protected by blockchain encryption. No waiting on bank hours – winnings can be cashed out in minutes.
These perks (speedy transactions, worldwide reach, lower fees) weren’t lost on other industries. Restaurants and retailers took note: if customers are happy to pay with crypto in a game, they might do the same for a burger or a cup of coffee. In this way, the gaming world helped normalize crypto payments, paving the road for eateries and shops to start saying, “Sure, we accept crypto too.”
Crypto on the Menu Worldwide
As of 2024, over 560 million people worldwide (about 6.8% of the global population) now own some form of crypto. And importantly, many aren’t just holding crypto as an investment; they want to spend it. Surveys show around 65% of crypto owners would like to make payments using cryptocurrency, indicating a strong consumer appetite to use crypto in everyday life.
Major cities on every continent are seeing this trend. In the U.S., tech-forward urban centers lead the way – New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have the highest number of stores now accepting crypto payments. Across Europe, you can find crypto-friendly cafés and pubs from London to Ljubljana. Latin America is on board too: in Buenos Aires alone, more than 100 businesses, including restaurants and cafés, now take crypto payments.
To put things in perspective, here’s a snapshot of crypto adoption in different regions:
| Region | Crypto Adoption (2024) |
| North America (U.S.) | About 52.9 million crypto owners (15.5% of Americans). |
| Latin America | More than 57 million users. |
| Europe (U.K. /France) | Almost 18% of adults own crypto. |
| Asia (India) | More than 90 million users. |
Lower Fees, New Patrons: Why Restaurants Embrace Crypto
Credit card networks and payment processors often charge fees on each transaction that nibble away at a restaurant’s thin profit margins. Crypto transactions, by contrast, can be much cheaper to process. Every percent saved on fees is money back in the business’s pocket, which in the food service industry can make a real difference over time.
Another big draw is attracting new customers. In a recent survey, 85% of merchants saw crypto payments as a way to reach new customer segments. Especially in competitive city markets, being one of the first bistros or burger joints on the block to accept Bitcoin can set you apart.
It’s a talking point and a marketing boost – people might visit just to try paying with crypto, or international travelers who prefer using digital currency can seek out those welcoming venues. As one restaurant analyst noted, accepting bitcoin can attract an audience that perceives your establishment as “techno-savvy,” effectively expanding your customer base.
There’s also a branding and competitive advantage angle. Businesses that embrace new technology early often enjoy a reputation bump. It positions a restaurant as cutting-edge and customer-friendly. Diners might not use crypto every day, but knowing they can create goodwill and buzz. And for those restaurants that have rolled out crypto payments, the feedback is largely positive: The vast majority of businesses that started accepting crypto have reported a positive impact on metrics like customer growth and brand perception.
Finally, there’s the benefit of fast, secure transactions, as also mentioned above. Crypto payments can be settled quickly without the delays of certain traditional payment systems, meaning restaurants get their funds faster. The blockchain technology underlying crypto also adds security – transactions are verified and cannot be easily reversed fraudulently, which can reduce chargeback risk for merchants. All these factors combine into a compelling case for adventurous restaurants: lower fees, new patrons, faster cash flow, and a modern image.
Of course, it’s not only the influence of other industries that pushed food businesses to adopt innovative ways of payment, but also the continuous development of cryptocurrencies. Today, some of them have different natures from what you may know about cryptocurrencies in general. Investors know very well about memecoins that many consider as “fair launches”. So, every industry has a huge variety of choices regarding what to accept and how open to be when it comes to digital payments. The rest is a matter of will and open-mindedness.