Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Square’s Cash App payment application now allows users to buy and sell Bitcoin

Bitcoins
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Despite rising and falling more than a Titanic-branded yo-yo, Bitcoin is still a tempting place to invest your money. While a market with such intense volatility may not be ideal for long-term gains, anyone who has an eye on making a quick buck buying and selling in rapid succession may find a place to invest. But the problems with Bitcoin always begin with getting started. We have our own guide on how to get started, but now, getting started in the mysterious world of cryptocurrency may be getting easier, thanks to an announcement from Twitter founder and Square CEO, Jack Dorsey.

Instant buying (and selling, if you don’t want to hodl) of Bitcoin is now available to most Cash App customers. We support Bitcoin because we see it as a long-term path towards greater financial access for all. This is a small step.

We also made this! https://t.co/z3u0liDNk4

— jack⚡️ (@jack) January 31, 2018

Square’s service Cash App (available on the iOS App Store and on the Google Play Store) allows users to send money to friends and family quickly and easily, and that sort of seamless experience should appeal to users looking to get into the cryptocurrency space, where time is money, and a late transaction can mean the difference between a profit and loss. In Square’s own words:

“Cash App is already the easiest way to send and receive money with friends and family. We’ve made it just as easy to buy and sell BTC straight from your Cash App balance. Unlike other apps, most of our buys and sells happen in seconds. You can even spend your proceeds from a free Visa debit card.”

Cash App’s Bitcoin page also contains a handy history of the cryptocurrency, as well as an explanation of what Bitcoin is and how it’s gathered via mining. According to Jack’s Tweet, the Bitcoin buying and selling should be available to most Cash App users now, so if you’re excited to get trading BTC, make sure your Cash App is updated and you should be good to go. As Square itself points out, like most investments Bitcoin is not without its risks, and users should never invest more than they’re prepared to lose. Square has put together a handy FAQ and post on risks for those who want to make sure they’re forewarned.

Bitcoin has had a troublesome few months recently. After prices hit record highs back in December, prices began to drop in January, and many insist that the bubble is bursting, and Bitcoin will decline and never recover to its previous heights. Still, opinion is heavily divided, and if you see a future for your finances in Bitcoin, then Cash App makes it easier than ever to get involved.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Jansen
Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient &…
The best Bitcoin wallets
bitcoin

With cryptocurrency technologies, trends, and values changing daily, it can often be hard to keep track of the latest best practices. One of the most important considerations to make as a Bitcoin (or alt-coin) investor or owner is where to store them. For that, you need to know the best Bitcoin wallets.

Do you use a wallet linked to an exchange? Do you use a software wallet that's local to your machine? A hardware wallet specifically designed for keeping your coins safe? Or even put it on a piece of paper and lock it in a fire-proof safe? There are various approaches to the cryptocurrency wallet, and all of them have their benefits and drawbacks.
Online wallets

Read more
Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: What’s the difference?
ethereum vs bitcoin bitcoinethereum01

Cryptocurrencies can be a little confusing. Are they digital money or more like gold? Are they a new way to pay for things online or a way to store value? Those aren't easy questions to answer when you're talking about hundreds of different cryptocurrencies, some old, some new, and some very different from the rest. When you focus Ethereum versus Bitcoin, though, there are some stark, apparent differences.

Their age is the most obvious, with Bitcoin having entered this world as the very first global cryptocurrency in 2009 and Ethereum only showing up in 2015 as a potential alternative. Although it is less proven than its predecessor, Ethereum does have a few nifty features that give it a lot more potential than its older sibling in some key areas. For this guide, we'll look at two shared aspects of the cryptocurrencies: Their ability to act as a store of value and as transactional mediums. We'll also take a look at some of the unique features which make them stand apart.

Read more
Facebook Libra vs. Bitcoin
Facebook Libra fake physical token

There are a lot of cryptocurrencies out there, but it surprised a lot of people when Facebook made headlines by announcing its own. Libra has been available to purchase since 2019, but many people still aren’t sure whether they should take the plunge and buy a few shares. 

Luckily, we’ve gone ahead and done a lot of the research for you. Read more about how Libra compares to a popular currency like Bitcoin.
Availability and history
Bitcoin's white paper was originally released in 2008, with the first Bitcoin being mined in 2009. Today you can buy, sell, and trade Bitcoin on a variety of different exchanges and with millions of individuals privately, all over the world.

Read more