In 2025 the state government passed a Strategic Arizona Bitcoin Reserve, 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 Square terminal was already set up for it, 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 [email protected].
Appendix of 219 Arizona Bitcoin Merchants (Source BTC MAP)
☕ Coffee Shops & Cafés
- Beal Beans — 509 West Hatcher Road, Phoenix, AZ 85021
- Beal Beans — 5757 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012
- Bobaholic Milk Tea Lounge — 6135 North 35th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
- The Buzzed Goat — 2795 South Market Street, Gilbert, AZ 85295
- The Buzzed Goat — 3415 South McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282
- The Buzzed Goat — 4302 East Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044
- Cactus Coffee Works — 971 North Jason Lopez Circle, Florence, AZ 85132
- Echo Coffee — 2902 North 68th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
- Good News Phoenix — 1306 East Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006-3438
- Piccola Casa Internacional — 2200 El Mercado Loop, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635-5215
- Stemistry — 618 East Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2351
- Stemistry — 6601 East McDowell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257-3164
- Sweet Sage Coffee Co. — 15 North Central Street, Colorado City, AZ 86021
- Wildcraft Kitchen — 345 Jordan Road, Sedona, AZ 86336
- Writer’s Block Coffee Shop — 17212 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255-9615
🍽️ Restaurants & Quick Bites
- All Pierogi Kitchen Restaurant & Euro Market — 1245 West Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85202-5824
- Best Life Nutrition — 4158 Goldwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-3816
- Black Mountain Bistro & Bar — 1595 Mohave Drive, Bullhead City, AZ 86442-3724
- Born’s Best Sandwiches — 2231 McCulloch Boulevard North, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
- Cilantros Mexican Cocina — 20928 North John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa, AZ 85139-2924
- Don Guerra’s Barrio Bagel & Slice — 689 North Arizona Avenue, Gilbert, AZ 85233-3414
- Dos Gordos Grill — 3552 West Baseline Road, Laveen, AZ 85339-3042
- Foch — 21 East 6th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
- Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup — 3150 East Ray Road, Gilbert, AZ 85296-1229
- Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup — 3313 North 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014-5433
- Galaxy MunchBox — 11701 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85307-2601
- Galaxy MunchBox — 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
- Haritz Ona — 6061 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331-8517
- Knuckle Sandwiches — 1140 North Higley Road, Mesa, AZ 85205
- Lazy E Grill — 7107 South Nucci Lane, Hereford, AZ 85615-9206
- Local Juicery — 3150 West State Route 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
- Lollygag Waffles and Drinks — 13060 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85378-1200
- Mancuso’s Restaurant — 201 East Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2428
- One Hot Mess — 683 North Main Street, Eagar, AZ 85925
- Pita Cafe — 23535 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
- Riot Grill — 405 East American Avenue, Oracle, AZ 85623-6119
- Scottsdale Burger Bar — 23535 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
- Seattle Fish House — 4419 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85205-7900
- Sonson’s Pasty — 1430 West Warner Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233-7039
- Soup & Sausage Bistro — 13240 North 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85022-5309
- Soup & Sausage Bistro — 4030 East Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032-2299
- Stoop Kid — 901 North 1st Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2140
🍦 Bakeries, Sweets & Desserts
- Chocolita — 2710 North Steves Boulevard, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
- Chocolita Downtown — 123 South San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- Cookie Brokers Bakery of Phoenix — 3931 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018
- The Gelato Tavern — 343 East Monroe Avenue, Buckeye, AZ 85326-2705
- Keto Keto Carnivore — 713 East Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman, AZ 86401
- Layla’s Bakery — 3190 State Route 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
- Nite Creamery — 17865 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374-3108
- Nite Creamery — 922 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe, AZ 85281-6170
- Scooptacular — 4730 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018
- Scooptacular — 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
- Udder Delights — 1385 East Warner Road, Gilbert, AZ 85296
🍺 Bars, Breweries & Lounges
- Alcove Wine, Beer & Provisions — 1002 East Pierce Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006-3784
- Founding Fathers Collective — 218 North Granite Street, Prescott, AZ 86301
- Lochiel Brewing — 7143 East Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85209
- O’Leary’s Pub — 1063 Highway 95, Bullhead City, AZ 86429-5202
- Rancho Silverado — 4809 North 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017-3540
- Sahara Hookah Lounge — 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
- Water and Ice Arizona — 940 North Alma School Road, Chandler, AZ 85224
💈 Barbers & Hair Salons
- Barber Supply — 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
- Famoso Cutz Barber Studio — 101 South La Cañada Drive, Green Valley, AZ 85614
- Hair by Sheila — 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
- Indielocks — 4251 North Winfield Scott Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
- Jessica Sisko Hair — 10636 North 71st Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
- Kopper Blonde Company at Salon Lofts — 15323 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2676
- LuvieStyles — 2923 North 67th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
- The Manner Barbershop — 4251 Brown Avenue, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
- Michaelangel The Barber — 4302 East Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044
- Michaelangel The Barber — 4933 East Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044-6420
- OutKast Barbershop — 10855 North 116th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85259
- Payán Styles — 310 North Dobson Road, Mesa, AZ 85201
- Pikasso Barber Shop — 914 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014
- Queen Creek Barber Shop and Salon — 20827 East Ocotillo Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
- RookieFresh Barbershop — 10540 West Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85037
- Salon Suede — 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
- Surgeon Cuts Barbershop — 1201 West Iron Springs Road, Prescott, AZ 86305-1443
- Surgeon Cuts Barbershop — 2700 South Woodlands Village Boulevard, Flagstaff, AZ 86001-2935
- TikiStylez Hair Care — 3163 South McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282
- The Urban Shave — 824 West Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- Xavier’s Barber Shop — 1185 South 4th Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364-8426
💅 Beauty, Spa & Body Art
- All Seasons Beauty Bar — 11838 South Foothills Boulevard, Yuma, AZ 85367
- Aromatouch by Caitlin — 7850 North Silverbell Road, Tucson, AZ 85743
- Big Time Beauty — 15224 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85306
- Blue Sage Day Spa — 60 Stutz Bearcat Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336
- Dan Duke Body Piercing Artist — 217 South San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- Dr33ds and Braids — 822 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014-4628
- Eric’s Electrolysis — 930 North Switzer Canyon Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- Ethereal Esthetics — 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
- Massageworks — 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
- Serenity Lounge Massage — 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
- Your Brow Bar — 4515 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016
🩺 Health & Wellness
- Antheas Healing Hands — 10505 North 69th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
- Ascend Spiritual Center — 671 State Route 179, Sedona, AZ 86336
- AZ IV Medics — 14891 North Northsight Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
- Blissful Health Haven — 2235 South State Route 89, Chino Valley, AZ 86323
- Desert Mountain Medical and Chiropractic — 21321 East Ocotillo Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142-5994
- Flagstaff Osteopathy — 2708 North Fourth Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
- Harmonizing Healthcare — 2405 North Rose Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
- Healing Journey Acupuncture – Julie K Laffen, L.Ac. — 855 East Brown Road, Mesa, AZ 85203
- Parkside Dental Health — 5865 West Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85226-1881
- Pifer Psychology — 2230 East Speedway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85719
- Psych Assist — 405 West Main Street, Payson, AZ 85541
- Real Health Regenerative Medicine — 9364 East Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
- Western Glow — 2123 Sunset Point, Globe, AZ 85501
🥊 Fitness & Martial Arts
- Alter Up — 3111 West Chandler Boulevard, Chandler, AZ 85226
- Art Paint Draw — 830 South Main Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
- AZ Cleaning Supplies — 2435 South 11th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007
- B&R African Styles — 6719 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85033
- Blue Gecko Gardens — 15521 West Blue Gecko Place, Tucson, AZ 85736
- Brio Jewelry — 414 South Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281
- Deer Valley Collectibles — 42211 North 41st Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85086
- Desert Rat Games — 118 East Florence Boulevard, Casa Grande, AZ 85122-4052
- Dog-Eared Pages Used Books — 16428 North 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032
- Finer Custom Engagement Rings and Diamonds — 4211 North Winfield Scott Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
- Firearms Unknown — 801 West 32nd Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
- Gifted Delights — 810 Gemstone Avenue, Bullhead City, AZ 86442-6477
- Goliath Fuel — 7303 Hawes Road, Mesa, AZ 85212
- Import Corner — 9000 East Government Way, Kingman, AZ 86401
- The Kallie Edit — 455 North 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-3924
- Mel’s Bisbee Bodega — 2 Main Street, Bisbee, AZ 85603
- Mr.E Comics — 1855 West Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023-3475
- Mr.E Comics — 20800 North John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa, AZ 85139-2728
- NEST Home Decor & Gifts — 1450 East White Mountain Boulevard, Pinetop, AZ 85935-7091
- Next Block Vending — 450 West Cool Drive, Tucson, AZ 85737
- Next Block Vending — 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
- Simple Pure CBD — 18255 North 83rd Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308-0515
- T-Shirt Plug Az — 7537 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85033-5445
- Tropica Botanical Nursery — 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
- Zenith Vape & CBD — 1800 East Fort Lowell Road, Tucson, AZ 85719-2390
- Zenith Vape & CBD — 1996 East Irvington Road, Tucson, AZ 85714-1807
- Zenith Vape & CBD — 3280 South Camino del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622-4649
- Zenith Vape & CBD — 3655 North Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85705-3270
- Zenith Vape & CBD — 4572 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85711-3510
🚗 Automotive
- Aeon Fives — 1329 North 29th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009
- All Valley Powder Coating Services — 23449 North 35th Drive, Glendale, AZ 85310
- BBB Motorwërks – A Revline Motorsports Company — 4818 South 40th Place, Phoenix, AZ 85040
- Dave’s Auto Refinishing — 3150 East Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713
- David & Sons Collisions — 2604 North 36th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008
- Desert Tint — 1660 South Research Loop, Tucson, AZ 85710-6737
- Don Licho’s Tire Shop — 843 West Highway 92, Bisbee, AZ 85603-9769
- Easy Auto Rents — 1642 North McCulloch Boulevard, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
- FineDetailing — 7900 East Greenway Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-1713
- King Garcia Auto Detail — 702 West Melinda Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85027
- Magnum Truck Gear — 9800 North 91st Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85345
- Viper Automotive — 1402 East Fair Street, Tucson, AZ 85714
- World of Racing — 3227 East Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032-2700
- The Wrap Room — 2140 East 5th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
💻 Tech & Electronics
- Baker Amps — 2636 West Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85202
- Computer Nerds — 2404 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86401
- Computer Nerds — 2840 AZ 95, Bullhead City, AZ 86442
- Electronic Solutions — 3818 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85714
- LJJM Tech — 2310 North Wyatt Drive, Tucson, AZ 85712
- Quik Fix Repair — 245 South Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ 85711
- Quik Fix Repair — 2843 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719
- Quik Fix Repair — 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
- Brenovations HVAC — 3210 South Dodge Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85713
- Clean Geeks Cleaning Services — 13444 North 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032
- Click and Done Home Services — 4150 West Northern Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85051-5781
- Gover Property Management
- Jay Lewis Architectural Design — Goodyear, AZ 85338
- Pest Control Bros — 40110 West Wade Drive, Maricopa, AZ 85138-2742
- True Tucson Woodworks — 3075 West Placita del Pasillo, Tucson, AZ 85746
💼 Professional & Business Services
- Beyond Attorneys — 7014 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-1247
- Box & Tape | Aerocav — 2820 East University Drive, Mesa, AZ 85213-8546
- The Map Lady — 31 North 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701-1503
- Photography Is Unique — 2941 West Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017
- Property Clicks Media — 3550 North Goldwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-5538
- Salvador Ongaro Law Offices — 320 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85004
- Saving Lives CPR — 8805 West Union Hills Drive, Peoria, AZ 85382
- Strap Film Lab — 1301 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007
- Strap Film Lab — 36 South Robson, Mesa, AZ 85201
- Terrace Mail – Tu Dirección Segura — 82 North Terrace Avenue, Nogales, AZ 85621
- Waypoint Creative — 1 West Elliot Road, Tempe, AZ 85284
🐾 Pets
- Cochise Harm Reduction — 1556 South Naco Highway, Bisbee, AZ 85603
- Heritage Amusements — 6555 East Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85206-3718
- Iglesia Vida — 3002 North Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85225-7158
- Neighborhood Comedy Theatre — 214 West Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201