It’s all very well investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but what do you do with them once you own them? Sure, you can hold onto your coins until the market shifts and then sell them to make a profit. But, what about using them in the real world instead of your dollars?

There are numerous companies – both online and in the real world – that now accept the major cryptocurrencies as payment for goods or services. Essentially, you have to pay through a third-party wallet, but the end result is the same.

Let’s take a look at where you can shop:

1. Microsoft

The massive software company that powers a huge portion of computers around the world is one of the most impressive additions to the list. Microsoft allows everyday users to pay for their account subscriptions with Bitcoin and has done so since 2014. There’s no news yet on when or if it’ll open up to the other major cryptocurrencies, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they did in the not-too-distant future.

2.AT&T

As one of the largest telecommunications organizations in the world, AT&T broke boundaries when it started accepting Bitcoin from customers in 2019. The company was the first major mobile carrier to go this route.

In order to use your cryptocurrency with AT&T, you need to go via BitPay. This is a payment processor that allows your Bitcoin wallet to connect to the AT&T network. Now, you can even set up regular debits in cryptocurrency to pay for your mobile contract.

3. Restaurants – Starbucks, Burger King, And KFC

Numerous restaurants and fast food chains have jumped on and off the cryptocurrency bandwagon over the last few years. Burger King in Germany customers to order online or on the mobile app and pay using Bitcoin. KFC Canada ran a campaign that allowed people to use BitPay to purchase a special order – the Bitcoin Bucket.

The one chain that has stuck with the idea, however, is Starbucks. The coffee giants have partnered with the platform Bakkt. Customers can use Bakkt to buy coffee in stores and pay using their Bitcoin. The digital wallet platform makes for seamless transitions in the real world.

4. The Home Depot

The prize for making in-store purchases with cryptocurrency is the simplest must-go-to The Home Depot. The massive home renovation and decoration retailer uses the Flexa checkout system in their stores, which allows any customer to pay with their Bitcoin wallet at the tills.

This is a massive statement about the company’s belief in cryptocurrency, which is pretty major considering that The Home Depot is one of the highest revenue businesses in the world. The company also operates across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

It’s Easy To Pay With Cryptocurrency

While paying for everything with cryptocurrency is still a long way off from the real world, it’s clearly not being ignored by the retail industry. As long as you know how to buy crypto you can use it to pay for these stores and services – and in the future, you’re likely to be able to do a whole lot more.