Crypto Reporter
Shalini Nagarajan
Crypto Reporter
Shalini Nagarajan
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Cash App on Thursday rolled out a crypto-focused upgrade that adds Bitcoin Lightning payments and stablecoin transfers, sharpening its push to make digital money feel instant and everyday.
The release lands as a bundle of 11 updates and more than 150 refinements across banking, Bitcoin, commerce and peer-to-peer features. The update focuses on making money movement faster, cheaper and more intuitive in the app.
For Bitcoin, Cash App now lets eligible users pay over the Lightning Network in seconds and with no fee, using either BTC or a USD balance after scanning a Lightning QR code. That routing choice means people can tap Lightning speed without needing to hold Bitcoin.
Cash App Adds Bitcoin Map and Prepares Stablecoin Transfers for Everyday Use
The app also introduces Bitcoin Map, an in-app directory that helps customers find nearby Square merchants and other businesses that accept Bitcoin. Users can locate a store, get directions, and pay directly over Lightning at checkout.
Stablecoins are coming next. Cash App said eligible customers will soon be able to send and receive dollar-linked tokens inside the app, giving users a low-friction rail for moving digital dollars alongside BTC.
These steps align with Jack Dorsey’s long-standing Bitcoin thesis, that open protocols should power everyday payments. Cash App already made BTC buying mainstream for millions, and Lightning support pushes that view deeper into point-of-sale and peer-to-peer flows.
Cash App Taps AI and Crypto to Build Faster, Smarter and More Open Payment Rails
Under the hood, the company also refreshed navigation with AI-driven prompts and rolled out a more flexible benefits program for banking features. The most significant change for crypto users is faster, more flexible transfers via Bitcoin and stablecoins.
The timing follows strong crypto engagement in Block’s results. Last week, the company reported nearly $2b in Bitcoin revenue during the third quarter, part of $6.11b in total revenue, with net income of $461.5m and double-digit gross profit growth led by Cash App.
For merchants, Lightning acceptance through Square and discovery through Bitcoin Map could bring incremental foot traffic, while stablecoins add a treasury-friendly settlement choice for those who prefer dollars.
For consumers, the mix of Lightning and stablecoins offers two clear benefits, near-instant payments and predictable value. Paying with BTC becomes faster and cheaper, while sending a stablecoin avoids price swings when moving funds.
With President Trump’s administration leaning into a friendlier posture on digital assets, the policy backdrop adds momentum. If volumes follow, Cash App’s new rails could widen the gap between crypto-curious wallets and truly crypto-native money apps.
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