Yes — you can use Ethereum to buy things today. Many online stores and services accept ETH either directly or through payment platforms like BitPay or NOWPayments. If you don’t already own Ethereum, you can easily buy ETH with a debit card through platforms like Changelly, which offer quick purchase and wallet transfer in minutes. Overstock, Newegg, Travala, CheapAir, and even gift-card services like Bitrefill let you pay with Ethereum. Luxury brands and travel platforms also support crypto checks. And even some physical retailers — like Sheetz convenience stores — now accept ETH at checkout. These purchases usually convert ETH into stablecoins or fiat instantly at the point of sale. That means you can spend crypto without worrying about price swings or technical hurdles.
Where to Spend Ethereum in 2025 – Merchants, Stores, and Platforms
You can spend Ethereum in many places today—online and in select physical shops. BitPay powers payments for major brands like Home Depot, IKEA, Newegg, Ralph Lauren, Sony PlayStation Store, and Wayfair. And you can even book travel or buy luxury items and gift cards via the BitPay merchant directory.
PayPal’s new “Pay with Crypto” is rolling out to U.S. merchants and lets you pay with Ethereum through wallets like MetaMask, Coinbase, Binance, and more. Fees start at just 0.99% for the first year—much lower than typical credit card rates—and merchants get paid in stablecoin or fiat instantly.
Or use the BitPay Card like a debit card. You load it from your crypto wallet and spend anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted.
This means whether you’re shopping online, traveling, or grabbing everyday items, there’s a growing ecosystem making it easy to spend Ethereum.
How Ethereum Payments Work – ETH, Stablecoins, and Instant Fiat Conversion
You often don’t pay directly in raw ETH when you shop. Many services automatically convert your ETH into a stablecoin like USDC or PYUSD, or directly into fiat at checkout. Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to hold steady value—typically pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar—making them far more practical for payments. They stay stable because issuers hold reserves, such as bank cash or U.S. Treasuries, on hand to back every token.
Using stablecoins helps avoid price swings that would make buying things with ETH risky. And many merchants prefer it. Or the platform handles it behind the scenes—finalizing your purchase in fiat—even though you started with Ethereum. This keeps checkout smooth and shields you from crypto volatility.
Ethereum Payment Fees and Speed After the Dencun Upgrade
Fees dropped sharply after Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade, which added EIP‑4844 and made Layer‑2 transactions much cheaper and faster. This upgrade introduced blobs, temporary data segments that replace costly permanent storage—driving down L2 fees by 90‑99% and making on‑chain payments far more wallet‑friendly.
Average L2 fee per transaction plunged from around $0.50 to just $0.05 in some networks—especially on platforms like Base and Arbitrum.
And transaction speeds improved too. Fewer bottlenecks on the Ethereum mainnet mean L2 confirmations happen much faster. This smoother experience is ideal for everyday payments and checkout flows.
But note: Ethereum’s mainnet still has higher fees. Most cost savings now come through L2 platforms. That means for cheap and fast ETH payments, choosing an L2-powered method is key.
This upgrade transformed Ethereum into a more practical network for payments. It’s no longer just for developers—it’s increasingly user friendly and efficient.
Better Checkout with Ethereum – Account Abstraction and Gasless Transactions
Smart wallets now let you pay without managing private keys or ETH for gas. ERC‑4337, also called account abstraction, makes this possible by letting your wallet act like a smart contract. You don’t need to hold ETH at all. Instead, paymasters—or smart contracts—can fund the gas or let you use other tokens like USDC for fees.
And ERC‑4337 adds flexibility. You can enable secure features such as multi‑signature approval, social recovery, or one‑click flows—all baked into your wallet’s logic. This feels more like traditional apps, with checks, recovery methods, and smart rules built in.
But you still stay decentralized and safe. ERC‑4337 works on a separate layer above Ethereum’s core, so it adds usability without changing the blockchain itself.
This upgrade means Ethereum payments are now smoother, more forgiving, and easier—even for those who find crypto intimidating.
Ethereum Purchase Costs, Refund Policies, and Tax Considerations
Paying with Ethereum can carry hidden costs and tax implications you need to understand. Using ETH creates a taxable event when its value changes from when you bought it—this includes buying goods or services. The IRS treats crypto as property, so any gain is taxed, whether you sold or simply spent it. And stablecoins like USDC or PYUSD are taxed the same way—even though value swings are small, capital gains still apply.
Gas fees can reduce your capital gains when included in your cost basis or selling expense. That means your taxable profit may be lower if you track those costs accurately.
Refunds usually follow the same flow you paid: if you got charged in stablecoins or fiat, you’ll get money back that way. But most payments go through intermediaries. Be sure to save proof of purchase and any refund receipts. That will help accurately report gains, losses, or use in your tax filing.
Limitations and Risks of Paying with Ethereum
Volatility still matters—even with stablecoins. Price swings can hurt both buyers and sellers if funds don’t convert instantly. Consumers may end up spending more than expected.
Network congestion can delay or block transactions. Fees spike when demand surges, and your payment might get stuck in limbo.
Limited merchant acceptance remains an issue. While more stores embrace crypto, using Ethereum at checkout is far from universal.
Regulatory uncertainty adds to the risk. Rules vary by country. You may face legal or tax uncertainty—and that can complicate refunds or returns.
And safeguards differ from traditional methods. Crypto lacks chargebacks or strong consumer protections. If something goes wrong, you often have no fallback.
Smart contract failures pose another danger. Complex payment apps can malfunction, and mistakes are irreversible.
This doesn’t mean Ethereum payments are unusable—but knowing these risks helps you shop smarter.
The Future of Ethereum Payments – Shopify, PayPal, and Mainstream Adoption
Ethereum payments are moving from niche to mainstream. Shopify already integrates with Coinbase Commerce, BitPay, and other gateways, letting thousands of stores accept ETH and stablecoins. PayPal’s “Pay with Crypto” is expanding, offering lower merchant fees and instant settlement in PYUSD or fiat.
And stablecoin rails are growing fast. Many merchants now prefer USDC or PYUSD because they avoid volatility but still keep blockchain’s speed and transparency. Layer-2 networks like Base and Arbitrum make small purchases cheap enough for everyday use.
Or you might soon pay without even holding ETH. Account abstraction wallets can auto-convert other tokens or even pull funds from a linked bank card. That makes blockchain payments feel as easy as tapping your phone.
The combination of lower fees, faster settlement, and smoother wallet UX means Ethereum is poised to compete directly with cards and PayPal. And as adoption grows, paying with ETH could soon be as normal as paying with dollars online.
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More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:
- Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
- Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
- Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
- Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
- Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
- KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
- Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
- Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
- Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
- Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($75) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $75 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
- Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- US Bank Business ($400/$1200) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
- 5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $400/$1200 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $75 for opening an account.
- Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
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