How can I actually spend crypto in real life?

[Crypto_Nerd123]

Hey everyone, I have been holding some crypto for a while now, mostly BTC and a bit of ETH, and I am starting to wonder how people actually spend it.

I understand the long term holding strategy, but I am more curious about using it like actual money. Are people really paying for everyday things with crypto? If so, where can you actually use it?

I have heard about crypto debit cards that convert your coins when you pay. Are those worth using? Do many online stores accept crypto directly, or is it still pretty limited? What about booking travel or paying for subscriptions?

And if a place does not accept crypto, is buying gift cards basically the main workaround?

I would really like to hear how others are using their crypto in real life, or if most people are still just holding onto it.

[OmegaStarScream]

Debit cards are only worth it if:

1. You don't mind verifying your identity.
2. You're from EU, UK, U.S (plenty of cards to choose from).

For other services, yes, sadly there is no workaround aside from buying gift cards but then again, you have multiple providers for that so chances are... you're going to find the gift card for whatever service you want.

For hosting, domains, and vpns, you probably won't find any issue paying directly with crypto.

[NeuroticFish]

Quite a lot of questions  

The answers depend greatly on the country you live in and even in the city/town you live in.

My experience with crypto cards is generally good, although you have to be aware that they come with certain fees - sometimes clearly written, sometimes hidden in the conversion rate.
Plus, in most cases you convert to fiat at the moment you top up the card, not at the moment you spend. I do own now 2 brands of crypto cards.

Spending directly worked for me better with online shops than physical shops, but as I said, it depends on country/surroundings.

I didn't use much the gift cards route, but afaik it's a valid one.

Other options that may worth considering are:
* use crypto ATM and convert to fiat (I didn't do this)
* f2f trading (but make sure you go only with reputable persons)  (I didn't do this)
* convert to fiat at an exchange (but DYOR on banks' stance vs crypto and withdraw to a different bank than your main income is in, to avoid surprises with closing it) (I did this successfully, but long ago)

Also keep in mind that if you want to spend your coins, you'll have to report and pay the income tax, else you risk unpleasant surprises.



TL;DR: for me crypto cards work good enough; paying the income tax is a topic to keep in mind.

[Lucius]

~snip~
Also keep in mind that if you want to spend your coins, you'll have to report and pay the income tax, else you risk unpleasant surprises.

Unpleasant surprises also come when you file your taxes, so you should keep such things in mind. Bad people in tax agencies leak secret information, and then thieves pay nightly visits to cryptocurrency owners.

With data leaks from privacy protective agencies, organised criminal activity is on the rise due to the ability to systematically target the most vulnerable individuals. Alleged to have provided data on crypto holders from government databases, Ghalia C., 32, who worked for the French tax authorities, was caught selling this information for €800 per entry to these criminal networks. At Ghalia's tax office in Bobigny, France, she had access to a special government program called "Mira" which has information about everyone's crypto assets. Ghalia reportedly accessed this system and retrieved file information on individuals who invest in cryptocurrencies, including their names and locations, as well as the money that they made from investing in cryptocurrencies. The prosecutor's office alleges that Ghalia sold this confidential information to an unnamed party that reportedly intended to carry out violent acts against those who hold crypto and have properly filed taxes on what they earned from crypto. Investigators found that Ghalia received cash and wire transfers from Western Union, which appear to have been payments from the masked group for killing individuals who have filed taxes on their cryptocurrency

[mastercryptogr]

I can share my personal experience here.

Yes, you actually can spend crypto in real life, and I do it regularly.

For example, I keep several crypto debit cards that I top up with BTC/USDT/ETH, and I use them almost like normal bank cards. The conversion happens instantly when you pay, so from the merchant side it’s just a standard card payment.

I use them not only for everyday things (restaurants, shopping, travel bookings, subscriptions), but also for my businesses. It’s very practical because it allows me to move between crypto and real-world expenses without constantly doing manual withdrawals.

In my opinion, debit cards are currently the easiest and most realistic way to “spend crypto” in daily life. Direct crypto payments are still limited in most places, but with cards you can basically pay anywhere Visa/Mastercard is accepted.

Gift cards can also be a workaround, but honestly, cards are much smoother.

So yes — many people are still holding long-term, but spending crypto is definitely possible today if you use the right tools.

[escrow.ms]

Even after a decade and half, merchants aren't ready to accept and hold crypto directly. Your best option is to either buy gift cards and use them or get a crypto debit card. For basic day to day usage both are sufficient unless you live in a third world country.

[BitMaxz]

For now, spending Bitcoin locally is currently limited. In my country there are some places here that you can actually spend crypto without converting it or use a Visa, like in Boracay, known as Bitcoin Island.

It looks similar to Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador, and based on what I know, they have 250+ merchants that accept Bitcoin and only a few merchants that accept other altcoins, but mainly they accept Bitcoin. I watched some YouTubers who can live there with only Bitcoin.

And I think there are many if you want to experience spending it without a 3rd party exchange, like in Bitcoin City in El Salvador and other countries.
Read more here: Places where you can travel paying with Bitcoin

[Stalker22]

~
I would really like to hear how others are using their crypto in real life, or if most people are still just holding onto it.

The answers to most of these questions depend on where you live or where you plan to spend your crypto.  Where I live, walking into a local grocery store and paying with a Bitcoin is possible.  Not in all of them of course, but there are several retail chains that accept crypto payments. Even more so if you want to use it to shop online.

[Potato Chips]

As for me, crypto in general is still not there in brick 'n mortars around here. I have heard some in cities far away from my place though.

I mainly use BTC/crypto online for subscriptions and gambling lol since I prefer crypto gamba platforms over fiat gamba platforms. I did buy gift cards too from bitrefill some time ago. If I ever see something nice, maybe I will buy it.

I suggest looking around which shop accepts it, and start from there. For instance, kycnot.me has listed a lot of them.

[avp2306]

Hey everyone, I have been holding some crypto for a while now, mostly BTC and a bit of ETH, and I am starting to wonder how people actually spend it.

I understand the long term holding strategy, but I am more curious about using it like actual money. Are people really paying for everyday things with crypto? If so, where can you actually use it?

I have heard about crypto debit cards that convert your coins when you pay. Are those worth using? Do many online stores accept crypto directly, or is it still pretty limited? What about booking travel or paying for subscriptions?

And if a place does not accept crypto, is buying gift cards basically the main workaround?

I would really like to hear how others are using their crypto in real life, or if most people are still just holding onto it.

Look at this  site https://bitgolder.com/which-stores-accept-bitcoins-complete-2026-guide/

Then see which online stores accept Bitcoin.

If you want to travel check this site https://www.travala.com/blog/new-year-2026-promotion/ they also accept Bitcoin.

Just search online and you will see lots of online stores accept Bitcoin, but as always take proper extra precaution selecting stores and always verify their background also reputation to spot legitimate also those potential scams.

[coin-investor]

I would really like to hear how others are using their crypto in real life, or if most people are still just holding onto it.

If you're an online content creator, a webmaster, or you like to buy or subscribe to anything online, you will have no problem using your cryptocurrency, as many platforms are already using it, and more are adding cryptocurrency.
The scenario is far better now than five years ago, when my cryptocurrency was stuck in my wallet, and I had to convert it to dollars or my local currency to buy something.
Also, check your localities or your providers if they accept cryptocurrency. Our water distributors are already accepting cryptocurrency now.