In 2025, cryptocurrency payments are no longer a novelty. Whether it’s groceries or something more luxurious, consumers are finding more places willing to accept crypto, and retailers are finally warming to the idea. With regulatory clarity improving and transaction tools evolving, the barriers that once made crypto a risky proposition for Main Street are beginning to disappear.
More than 65 million Americans now own some form of cryptocurrency, and according to Capital One, 80% of them want to use it for everyday purchases. A growing number already are. But historically, retailers have hesitated, wary of crypto’s volatility, compliance complications, and the technical overhead. That’s where new solutions like PDX Beam are changing the equation.
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Developed by PDX Global, the payment gateway acts as a bridge between crypto-paying customers and fiat-minded merchants. It integrates with any existing point-of-sale (POS) system, instantly converting crypto into local currency at the time of purchase. For retailers, that means no exposure to crypto price swings, no need to maintain a wallet, and near-instant settlement.
“We deliver true utility to the hundreds of thousands of digital asset holders who want to find a way to turn their investment into a medium of exchange,” said Shane Rodgers, CEO of PDX Global. “As we move through our beta phase, we have additional major opportunities to reach both the huge number of consumers who want to use their crypto as well as the luxury and Main Street merchants who want to accept it as easily as they accept Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay.”
Unlike legacy payment systems, PDX Beam leverages blockchain architecture to reduce both the risk of chargeback fraud and the fees that can cut into merchant margins. Traditional credit card transactions can cost 3-4% and as high as 7% for “risky” sectors like cannabis. PDX Beam slashes those costs in half or better, helping cash-strapped businesses hold onto more of their revenue.
It’s not just speculative crypto holders fueling this shift. A 2025 Deloitte report shows over 6,000 businesses already accept Bitcoin, with 85% of surveyed merchants seeing crypto payments as a way to attract new customers. According to the National Cryptocurrency Association, 55% of crypto-owning consumers would prefer a store that accepts crypto over one that doesn’t, and 40% of those customers are new to the retailer. Capital One’s data also shows crypto-paying customers spend about twice as much per transaction compared to credit card users.
PDX Beam is already in beta with dozens of small retailers. It’s also been deployed by high-end jewelry stores and luxury auto dealerships. A major fast-food chain is embarking on a pilot of the solution across 10 stores in Miami-Dade, and a $7.5 billion financial institution has signed on to process millions of dollars annually through PDX. A private equity firm has also joined to handle crypto transactions across its retail portfolio.
Behind this trend is a broader shift in sentiment. With record Bitcoin prices and a regulatory thaw from Washington, companies from JP Morgan to Goldman Sachs are launching crypto funds and infrastructure. A once niche ecosystem is becoming a legitimate financial rail.
“The crypto scene is indeed volatile and the risk should stay with the consumer, not the merchant,” Rodgers noted. “Merchants cannot be mandated to hold crypto accounts. This means that crypto-to-local currency conversion offers the most promising solution.”
For consumers, it means the ability to spend digital assets with the ease of Apple Pay. For retailers, it’s a way to meet demand, lower costs, and stay ahead of a rapidly changing financial landscape. Crypto may have started as a speculative asset, but it’s becoming a real payment tool on Main Street.
