In 2025 the state government passed a , but I understand the state still hasn’t bought any coins. We can’t wait for the government to use bitcoin before we use it, or it will never happen.

The question is, can a normal person walk into a shop and pay with bitcoin? I have some friends in Scottsdale who have never used bitcoin in real life, so I asked them to test it. I recommended downloading a lightning wallet, sent them some satoshis, and sent them the BTC Map. They were surprised how easy it was to download a wallet and move satoshis across the internet; it felt very natural and how money should be, they said.

First Stop: Pita Cafe (23535 N Scottsdale Rd #102, Scottsdale, AZ 85255)

Their first stop was Pita Cafe, a Mediterranean spot attached to Scottsdale Burger Bar. Both accept bitcoin. My friends came back raving about the food: everything is made fresh to order, and they say to get the spanakopita and the gyro pita. The place was packed at lunch, but service stayed fast with plenty of seating.

The cashier wasn’t sure at first whether they took bitcoin. Then he noticed the , and the payment went through quickly. It was his first time seeing customers pay in bitcoin, and he was excited about it. My friends also told me he looked at the amount on the screen and said he was shocked that they’d just paid “22,000 bitcoin”. They walked out feeling like royalty.

Next Up Echo Coffee (2902 N 68th Street, Ste. 135 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251)

Next they got hot cocoa at Echo Coffee. This cashier didn’t need to figure anything out. She knew they accepted bitcoin, switched the terminal over, and asked my friend to scan the QR code. She told them she thinks it’s super cool every time someone asks about it. Echo also donates 1% of purchases to the humane society, and the coffee bags have puppies on them. 

Why this matters

It’s a blast to send your loved ones out to a store along with some bitcoin to spend. Some friends already have bitcoin in investment portfolios, but the act of spending btc for tangible items shows what this movement is all about. 

As always, a growing directory of over 219 verified Bitcoin-accepting merchants across Arizona is listed below. If you want your business added to the list, or if you have a new city and story to feature in an upcoming column, write directly to .

Appendix of 219 Arizona Bitcoin Merchants ()

Coffee Shops & Cafés

•  — 509 West Hatcher Road, Phoenix, AZ 85021
•  — 5757 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012
•  — 6135 North 35th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
•  — 2795 South Market Street, Gilbert, AZ 85295
•  — 3415 South McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282
•  — 4302 East Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044
• Cactus Coffee Works — 971 North Jason Lopez Circle, Florence, AZ 85132
•  — 2902 North 68th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
•  — 1306 East Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006-3438
•  — 2200 El Mercado Loop, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635-5215
•  — 618 East Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2351
•  — 6601 East McDowell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257-3164
•  — 15 North Central Street, Colorado City, AZ 86021
•  — 345 Jordan Road, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Writer’s Block Coffee Shop — 17212 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255-9615

Restaurants & Quick Bites

•  — 1245 West Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85202-5824
• Best Life Nutrition — 4158 Goldwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-3816
•  — 1595 Mohave Drive, Bullhead City, AZ 86442-3724
•  — 2231 McCulloch Boulevard North, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
•  — 20928 North John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa, AZ 85139-2924
•  — 689 North Arizona Avenue, Gilbert, AZ 85233-3414
•  — 3552 West Baseline Road, Laveen, AZ 85339-3042
• Foch — 21 East 6th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
•  — 3150 East Ray Road, Gilbert, AZ 85296-1229
•  — 3313 North 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014-5433
•  — 11701 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85307-2601
•  — 701 West Beloat Road, Buckeye, AZ 85326
• George’s Famous Gyros & Pasta — 20206 North 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027
• George’s Famous Gyros & Pasta — 7620 East McKellips Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
•  — 6061 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331-8517
•  — 1140 North Higley Road, Mesa, AZ 85205
• Lazy E Grill — 7107 South Nucci Lane, Hereford, AZ 85615-9206
•  — 3150 West State Route 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
•  — 13060 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85378-1200
•  — 201 East Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2428
• One Hot Mess — 683 North Main Street, Eagar, AZ 85925
•  — 23535 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
• Riot Grill — 405 East American Avenue, Oracle, AZ 85623-6119
•  — 23535 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
•  — 4419 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85205-7900
•  — 1430 West Warner Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233-7039
•  — 13240 North 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85022-5309
•  — 4030 East Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032-2299
•  — 901 North 1st Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2140

Bakeries, Sweets & Desserts

•  — 2710 North Steves Boulevard, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
•  — 123 South San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
•  — 3931 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018
•  — 343 East Monroe Avenue, Buckeye, AZ 85326-2705
• Keto Keto Carnivore — 713 East Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman, AZ 86401
•  — 3190 State Route 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
•  — 17865 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374-3108
•  — 922 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe, AZ 85281-6170
•  — 4730 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018
•  — 5150 West Baseline Road, Laveen, AZ 85339
• Sweet Amore Creations — 1850 McCulloch Boulevard North, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403-5797
• Twisted Cultures Yogurt Shop — 9240 West Northern Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85305
•  — 1385 East Warner Road, Gilbert, AZ 85296

Bars, Breweries & Lounges

•  — 1002 East Pierce Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006-3784
•  — 218 North Granite Street, Prescott, AZ 86301
•  — 7143 East Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85209
•  — 1063 Highway 95, Bullhead City, AZ 86429-5202
• Rancho Silverado — 4809 North 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017-3540
•  — 6333 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301
• Wilhelm Family Vineyards — 21 Mountain Ranch Drive, Elgin, AZ 85611-7321

Groceries & Specialty Food

• Hive Grab N Go — 425 South Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281-2803
• Los Primos Meat Market — 2510 East Hunt Highway, San Tan Valley, AZ 85143
• Red Ridge Farm — 1000 East Hall Street, Show Low, AZ 85937
• TNT Nutrition — 1418 West 2nd Street, Winslow, AZ 86047
•  — 940 North Alma School Road, Chandler, AZ 85224

Barbers & Hair Salons

•  — 3825 North 75th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85033-3738
• Brooklyn’z Barbershop — 1800 West Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, AZ 85015
• CaveCutz — 4451 South White Mountain Road, Show Low, AZ 85901
• Dallas Taylor Hair — 13802 Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-3459
• Daniel Rausch at Ashten’s Salon — 1141 East Cooley Street, Show Low, AZ 85901
• Erika Starr Hair — 4933 East Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044
• FadezCostaFeez — 4500 North Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85705
•  — 101 South La Cañada Drive, Green Valley, AZ 85614
•  — 2594 East Canyon Crest Street, Sierra Vista, AZ 85650
• Headquarters Barbershop — 9393 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258-5041
• HH Hair Harmoney — 381 Commercial Way, Chino Valley, AZ 86323
•  — 4251 North Winfield Scott Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
• Jessica Sisko Hair — 10636 North 71st Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
•  — 15323 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2676
•  — 2923 North 67th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
• The Manner Barbershop — 4251 Brown Avenue, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
•  — 4302 East Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044
•  — 4933 East Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044-6420
•  — 10855 North 116th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85259
• Payán Styles — 310 North Dobson Road, Mesa, AZ 85201
•  — 914 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014
• Queen Creek Barber Shop and Salon — 20827 East Ocotillo Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
•  — 10540 West Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85037
•  — 7309 East Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
• Sophisticated Cuts Barbershop — 4120 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85714
• Styles by Sol at The Remedy Beauty Lounge — 81 South McQueen Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233
• Sunny’s Barbershop — 8745 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85710
•  — 1201 West Iron Springs Road, Prescott, AZ 86305-1443
•  — 2700 South Woodlands Village Boulevard, Flagstaff, AZ 86001-2935
• TikiStylez Hair Care — 3163 South McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282
•  — 824 West Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
•  — 1185 South 4th Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364-8426

Beauty, Spa & Body Art

•  — 11838 South Foothills Boulevard, Yuma, AZ 85367
• Aromatouch by Caitlin — 7850 North Silverbell Road, Tucson, AZ 85743
•  — 15224 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85306
•  — 60 Stutz Bearcat Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336
•  — 217 South San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
• Dr33ds and Braids — 822 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014-4628
•  — 930 North Switzer Canyon Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
•  — 6522 East Carondelet Drive, Tucson, AZ 85710
• Kiss Kreations Permanent Makeup — 123 East Baseline Road, Tempe, AZ 85283
• Kiss Kreations Permanent Makeup — 3450 West Chandler Boulevard, Chandler, AZ 85226
• Lucky Prick Tattoo — 2948 East Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032
•  — 1865 Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
• Premier Wellness — 2394 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016-3464
• Pure Blue Massage — 16551 North Dysart Road, Surprise, AZ 85378
•  — 177 North Church Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701
• Simply Divine Massage — 18775 North Reems Road, Surprise, AZ 85374-8647
• Skin Results — 5115 Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
•  — 4515 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Health & Wellness

•  — 10505 North 69th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
•  — 671 State Route 179, Sedona, AZ 86336
•  — 14891 North Northsight Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
•  — 2235 South State Route 89, Chino Valley, AZ 86323
•  — 21321 East Ocotillo Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142-5994
•  — 2708 North Fourth Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
•  — 2405 North Rose Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
• Healing Journey Acupuncture – Julie K Laffen, . — 855 East Brown Road, Mesa, AZ 85203
•  — 5865 West Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85226-1881
•  — 2230 East Speedway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85719
•  — 405 West Main Street, Payson, AZ 85541
•  — 9364 East Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
•  — 2123 Sunset Point, Globe, AZ 85501

Fitness & Martial Arts

•  — 8400 South Kyrene Road, Tempe, AZ 85284
•  — North Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ 85710
•  — 10427 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85253-1440
•  — 2850 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85213

Shopping & Retail

•  — 3111 West Chandler Boulevard, Chandler, AZ 85226
•  — 830 South Main Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
•  — 2435 South 11th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007
•  — 6719 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85033
• Blue Gecko Gardens — 15521 West Blue Gecko Place, Tucson, AZ 85736
•  — 414 South Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281
•  — 42211 North 41st Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85086
•  — 118 East Florence Boulevard, Casa Grande, AZ 85122-4052
• Dog-Eared Pages Used Books — 16428 North 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032
•  — 4211 North Winfield Scott Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
•  — 801 West 32nd Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
•  — 810 Gemstone Avenue, Bullhead City, AZ 86442-6477
• Goliath Fuel — 7303 Hawes Road, Mesa, AZ 85212
•  — 9000 East Government Way, Kingman, AZ 86401
•  — 455 North 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-3924
•  — 2 Main Street, Bisbee, AZ 85603
•  — 1855 West Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023-3475
•  — 20800 North John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa, AZ 85139-2728
• NEST Home Decor & Gifts — 1450 East White Mountain Boulevard, Pinetop, AZ 85935-7091
•  — 450 West Cool Drive, Tucson, AZ 85737
•  — 475 North Granada Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
• The Plant Mill — 51 West Vaughn Avenue, Gilbert, AZ 85234
• The Plant Mill — 518 South Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281
• The Puzzle Shop — 110 South Montezuma Street, Prescott, AZ 86303-4734
•  — 18255 North 83rd Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308-0515
•  — 7537 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85033-5445
•  — 10520 East Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85120-3330
• Visions — 1 Ok Street, Bisbee, AZ 85603-1061
• Wanted in Jerome — 110 Main Street, Jerome, AZ 86331
•  — 1800 East Fort Lowell Road, Tucson, AZ 85719-2390
•  — 1996 East Irvington Road, Tucson, AZ 85714-1807
•  — 3280 South Camino del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622-4649
•  — 3655 North Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85705-3270
•  — 4572 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85711-3510

Automotive

•  — 1329 North 29th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009
•  — 23449 North 35th Drive, Glendale, AZ 85310
• BBB Motorwërks – A Revline Motorsports Company — 4818 South 40th Place, Phoenix, AZ 85040
•  — 3150 East Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713
•  — 2604 North 36th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008
•  — 1660 South Research Loop, Tucson, AZ 85710-6737
• Don Licho’s Tire Shop — 843 West Highway 92, Bisbee, AZ 85603-9769
•  — 1642 North McCulloch Boulevard, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
•  — 7900 East Greenway Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-1713
•  — 702 West Melinda Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85027
•  — 9800 North 91st Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85345
• Viper Automotive — 1402 East Fair Street, Tucson, AZ 85714
•  — 3227 East Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032-2700
• The Wrap Room — 2140 East 5th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281

Tech & Electronics

•  — 2636 West Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85202
•  — 2404 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86401
•  — 2840 AZ 95, Bullhead City, AZ 86442
•  — 3818 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85714
•  — 2310 North Wyatt Drive, Tucson, AZ 85712
•  — 245 South Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ 85711
•  — 2843 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719
•  — 702 West Irvington Road, Tucson, AZ 85714

Home Services & Trades

• Air Conditioning Associates — 150 South Camino Seco, Tucson, AZ 85710
• Andrews Lock & Key — 65 South Sycamore, Mesa, AZ 85202-1143
•  — 3210 South Dodge Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85713
•  — 13444 North 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032
•  — 4150 West Northern Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85051-5781
• Gover Property Management
•  — Goodyear, AZ 85338
•  — 40110 West Wade Drive, Maricopa, AZ 85138-2742
•  — 3075 West Placita del Pasillo, Tucson, AZ 85746

Professional & Business Services

•  — 7014 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-1247
•  — 2820 East University Drive, Mesa, AZ 85213-8546
•  — 31 North 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701-1503
•  — 2941 West Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017
•  — 3550 North Goldwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-5538
•  — 320 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85004
•  — 8805 West Union Hills Drive, Peoria, AZ 85382
•  — 1301 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007
•  — 36 South Robson, Mesa, AZ 85201
•  — 82 North Terrace Avenue, Nogales, AZ 85621
•  — 1 West Elliot Road, Tempe, AZ 85284

Pets

•  — 7137 East Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
•  — 725 East Main Street, Somerton, AZ 85350
•  — 25817 South Mandarin Drive, Queen Creek, AZ 85142-9463

Entertainment & Community

• Cochise Harm Reduction — 1556 South Naco Highway, Bisbee, AZ 85603
• Heritage Amusements — 6555 East Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85206-3718
•  — 3002 North Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85225-7158
•  — 214 West Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201

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