DeutschAre cryptocurrencies real money and can you really pay with crypto? These are just two of the many questions that beginners ask themselves at the beginning. In this article, we’ll explain how you can pay with cryptocurrencies, where it’s possible, and what you should look out for.
Cryptocurrencies as a Means of Payment
Although many cryptocurrencies are primarily seen as speculation objects, the intention behind the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was to create a digital means of payment. However, Bitcoin was not only developed as a means of payment, but as a payment network. Instead of simply digitizing the previous fiat money, the properties of Bitcoin resemble a rare raw material.
Nowadays, however, there are significantly more cryptocurrencies – over 20,000 in number (as of March 2023). Although the use cases have increased since then and most coins and tokens refer to different systems, they have one thing in common: all cryptocurrencies can be used as a means of payment.
Where Can I Pay with Cryptocurrencies?
In order to be able to pay with cryptocurrencies, the technical functionality is of course not enough. There must also be merchants who accept cryptos as a means of payment. Due to the strong price fluctuations, however, many providers are reluctant to accept cryptocurrencies. In addition, this is associated with challenges. Many smaller retailers in particular are not familiar with the technology. Nowadays, however, there are already systems that enable merchants to accept cryptocurrencies as a means of payment without being affected by the risks. So: Where can you pay with cryptocurrencies? In the following four sections, we will give you an overview.
Paying with Cryptocurrencies in Government Offices
In more and more countries, governments are allowing tax payments with Bitcoin. This is also possible in the USA – for example in Colorado. However, this is still the exception. Nevertheless, more and more states are considering at least accepting cryptocurrencies as a means of payment, even if they are not to be equated with fiat currencies.
Paying with Bitcoin in El Salvador
The situation is different in El Salvador. There, Bitcoin is legal tender. This means that all businesses that have the technical capabilities must accept Bitcoin as a means of payment. Accordingly, you can also pay with Bitcoin in international stores in El Salvador. However, this should not be equated with the fact that all companies that accept BTC also support the cryptocurrency as a payment method on their own initiative. But even in El Salvador, there are still many merchants where you cannot pay with Bitcoin.
Pay with Cryptocurrencies Everywhere: with Crypto “Credit Cards”
In fact, it is even possible to pay with cryptocurrencies if the merchant does not actually accept cryptos. This is possible with crypto debit cards, which are often (incorrectly) advertised as crypto credit cards. These are Visa and Mastercard debit cards that allow users of crypto exchanges and other providers to pay with their cryptocurrencies. For example, there are crypto debit cards from Binance, Coinbase and Bitpanda. While you pay with your coins on the crypto exchange, the merchant receives the money in euros, Swiss francs or US dollars.
A bonus: Many crypto credit cards offer cashback programs. Depending on the provider, up to eight percent of monthly sales are possible.
These Well-Known Online Shops and Stores Accept Cryptocurrencies
When it comes to paying with cryptocurrencies, crypto credit or debit cards do not satisfy everyone. But which companies accept cryptocurrencies directly? The most prominent example between March and May 2021 was e-car manufacturer Tesla. Under the direction of Elon Musk, the company accepted Bitcoin as a means of payment for cars for two months. Due to environmental concerns, however, it was ultimately decided to reverse this decision. You can now pay with Dogecoin at least in the Tesla Merchandise Shop.
Other well-known companies that accept payments with Bitcoin include:
- Lieferando
- CyberGhost
- NordVPN
- Rakuten
- Shopify
An international overview of providers that accept Bitcoin is provided by 99bitcoins in this case.
So far, however, there are only a few local stores where you can directly pay for purchases or services with cryptocurrencies. In addition, there are – also very few – online shops where you can also pay with a digital currency.
How Can I Pay with Cryptocurrencies? Instructions
You now know where you can pay with cryptocurrencies. But how do you pay with cryptocurrencies if you want to use them yourself without an intermediary? In this case, you need a wallet in which you keep your coins and to which you have access. The process of paying with cryptocurrencies is the same as the process of sending cryptocurrencies.
Firstly, you need the recipient’s public key – also called a wallet address. This is visible to everyone and can be compared to the account number. However, it only exists once per network.
In order to actually be able to pay with a cryptocurrency, however, you not only need the public key, but also a private key. This is located exclusively on the corresponding wallet in which your coins are stored. The private key can best be compared to a password or a TAN that you may already know from online banking. By entering this private key, you verify the transaction and thus the payment with the corresponding cryptocurrency.
A major advantage of paying with cryptocurrencies is that the transaction usually takes only a few minutes. This, while a bank transfer can often take up to two days in comparison. In addition, the payment is significantly cheaper than a normal transfer via the bank account. Therefore, it is actually incomprehensible why so few places locally or on the Internet accept a payment via Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency.
Paying with Cryptocurrencies: Note Taxes
If you pay with cryptocurrencies, you may have to pay taxes on the profit you have made up to that point. This depends on the country in which you are liable to pay tax. In Switzerland, there are no taxes on capital gains. Accordingly, it is uncomplicated if you should pay with cryptocurrencies.
The situation is different if you live in Germany and bought your cryptocurrencies less than a year ago. Then your coins are considered sold through the payment process. If you have made a profit, this could become an expensive purchase for you. If you have been holding your coins for more than a year, you don’t have to worry about the taxation of cryptocurrencies in Germany.
Cryptocurrencies as a Means of Payment: these are the Challenges
Cryptocurrencies as a means of payment sometimes fall on deaf ears. This is partly because many people continue to label digital currencies as a Ponzi scheme or see no added value in paying with coins and tokens. The regulation of crypto assets actually makes it very unattractive to pay with cryptocurrencies in many countries. At the same time, the strong fluctuations in crypto prices are also not helpful in relying on cryptos as a means of payment.
In addition, there have only been companies for a few years that have made it their mission to promote cryptocurrencies as a means of payment. The intermediate step with crypto credit or debit cards is not helpful here. In this case, the merchants continue to incur the high fees that are part of classic payment service providers such as Visa or Mastercard.
Conclusion: Will We all Pay with Cryptocurrencies in the Future?
So far, the number of shops that allow you to pay with cryptocurrencies is limited. But payment service providers have already found ways and means for enthusiasts to pay with cryptocurrencies – regardless of whether the merchant accepts cryptos or not.
Nevertheless, paying with cryptocurrencies is still the exception rather than the rule today. On the one hand, this can have a disadvantageous effect due to taxation. On the other hand, the fees are low – this is primarily an incentive for merchants. The trend already shows that more and more businesses want to use cryptocurrencies as a means of payment. However, it will probably take a few years to decades before a significant number of people pay with cryptocurrencies.
