Wouldn’t it be nice to go to your closest store or even to another country and pay in any crypto of your preference, without exchanging for local currency? There are some countries and cities where you could do this, at least, in a lot of available stores that accept different coins. From cafés and hotels to cinemas and even clinics, more and more venues around the globe are accepting crypto as payment.
Determining the exact number of these outlets is a difficult task, though. Sometimes, reality doesn’t pair well with whatever we can research online. It can happen that a particular store stopped accepting crypto a while ago, and it can also happen that there are new ones around with little online presence, but actively taking crypto payments.
We’ll check here the five countries with more venues accepting crypto coins according to
Italy
Italy sits in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, and is known for its art, food, and rich history. It’s also on the crypto map: BTC Map lists around 1,083 venues across the country that accept crypto, while Bitcoin Map shows 194 locations. The most active cities are Milan and Rome, where cafés, hotels, restaurants, tech shops, clinics, and a growing fleet of Bitcoin ATMs make spending crypto straightforward for visitors.
Regulation has moved fast. The
If you travel to Italy with crypto, you can expect a mixed experience. In major cities, you'll find Bitcoin ATMs and businesses happy to accept cryptocurrencies, while outside of them, acceptance is less common. Besides, talking about taxes, gains from selling or exchanging crypto-assets are subject to a substitute tax of 26%. From 1 January 2026, the rate __is set to rise __to 33%. Not exactly a tax haven, but popular with crypto nonetheless.
Venezuela
This country is located on the northern coast of South America and is known for its oil reserves, natural beauty, and current
Crypto regulations in Venezuela are complex and tightly tied to the government’s control. In 2017, the National Superintendency of Crypto Assets (SUNACRIP) was created to oversee digital assets, exchanges, and mining. In 2019, it issued rules requiring registration and licensing for crypto activities —which were rarely followed. However, in March 2023, the Maduro administration intervened in SUNACRIP amid
Travelers using crypto in Venezuela can find local businesses open to payments in Bitcoin or USDT, particularly through the exchange Binance. Outside big cities, usage drops and conversion to bolívares (the national currency) can be unpredictable. Taxes on crypto transactions __were announced __in 2022 with rates up to 20%, but enforcement is inconsistent and tied to an administration that lacks international recognition.
El Salvador
El Salvador is a small Central American country, best known for its beaches, volcanoes, and coffee. It’s also become famous for its bold embrace of cryptocurrency, so it had to be on our list. According to BTC Map, around 1,441 venues across the country accept crypto payments, while Bitcoin Map lists only 8 —which seems more a matter of incomplete listings than lack of adoption. The most active cities are San Salvador
The country made history in 2021 by passing the
Travelers in El Salvador can pay with Bitcoin in many places, from beach towns like El Zonte to shopping malls in San Salvador, where Bitcoin ATMs are common. Additionally, Bitcoin investors __are exempt __from capital gains tax, and foreign investors enjoy similar benefits when using crypto in the country.
Brazil
Brazil, the largest country in South America, is also one of the region’s most dynamic crypto markets. According to BTC Map, the country has around 2,357 venues accepting crypto payments, while Bitcoin Map lists 96. The most active cities are São Paulo and Rolante (named “
Brazil’s main regulatory framework came with
For travelers in Brazil who use crypto, you will find many gateways and payment options, especially in major cities. When it comes
United States
The United States of North America is one of the largest crypto markets in the world. According to BTC Map, there are around 2,494 venues accepting cryptocurrencies, while Bitcoin Map lists an impressive 28,149. New York and Washington lead in adoption, with all kinds of stores and services.
Travelers in the U.S. can use Bitcoin and stablecoins in most cities, not just major ones. The
More Crypto Adoption
When we talk about crypto adoption, the numbers can tell very different stories depending on what is being measured. According to Chainalysis’
This explains why maps showing venues that accept crypto payments don’t always align with these rankings. A nation might have thousands of crypto-friendly cafés and stores yet show lower on “adoption” charts, while another with fewer venues might lead because of investment activity, remittances, or savings in stablecoins. In many cases, people use crypto more for transferring money, trading, or protecting their assets than for daily purchases.
For many users, crypto represents a personal vault rather than a wallet for spending. Decentralized platforms like
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