Is Bitcoin still practical for small online transactions in 2026?

[Bluebird1357]

I’ve noticed that many online services (including gaming and gambling sites) still accept Bitcoin for relatively small transactions.

With current network fees, do you think BTC is still practical for deposits under $20–$30, or are users moving more toward Lightning or other solutions?

Asking from a website operator’s point of view, but also curious as a user.

Yes, but how long because we all know that the fee depends on the mempool, i.e. if the mempool is empty, the fee is less and it takes less time, but if the mempool is full, that is when many users make transactions in the mempool at the same time, then the developer priority basis means that the one who pays the higher fee will have his transaction earlier and faster, and the one who pays the lower fee will take more time. This is the case of one chain network, but in the future, when the pressure increases and the adaptation increases, a new solution will definitely be invented. However, whether the Lightning network is good or bad for Bitcoin One chain is a matter of consideration.

[Judith87403]

For deposits that are small under $20–$30, on chain Bitcoin is not practical presently  as fees usually exceed the worth that is transferred. Many users and platforms are shifting towards Network Lightning or alternative 2-layer solutions to make costs stay low and speed high. As an operator of website, Lightning makes micro transactions very much viable. As a user, it is frequently lesser and faster as well.

[serjent05]

For deposits that are small under $20–$30, on chain Bitcoin is not practical presently  as fees usually exceed the worth that is transferred. Many users and platforms are shifting towards Network Lightning or alternative 2-layer solutions to make costs stay low and speed high. As an operator of website, Lightning makes micro transactions very much viable. As a user, it is frequently lesser and faster as well.

If someone does not mind usong centralized services for payment, then, paying with Bitcoin won't have an issue about fee.  Like for example, if a Binance user pay another Binance user through internal transfer, then the transaction won't charge a fee.  Same goes with other centralized application where internal transfer is availabe and does not charge transaction fee.