Have you ever wanted to buy something with bitcoin? There are now 32,000-plus venues that accept payment in cryptocurrency around the world, with thousands of them in the U.S.
Bitcoin is not without controversy, but one fact is indisputable: increasingly, merchants and venues are willing to accept digital currency for payment. In this article, we identify which cities are at the forefront of embracing virtual currency.
Key Takeaways
- The first bitcoin was mined in 2009—now, thousands of merchants worldwide accept virtual currency for payment.
- Enthusiasts and consumers can purchase bitcoin at thousands of ATMs globally.
- Southern California, the Great Lakes, and the South stand out as prominent bitcoin hotspots in the U.S.
How to Measure Bitcoin Adoption
We looked at three metrics—the number of merchants accepting bitcoin in each city, the number of bitcoin automated teller machines (ATMs) available, and the number of businesses in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry. For merchant data, we looked at Coinmap, a collaborative tool for listing and locating businesses that accept bitcoin, and Coin ATM Radar, which shows the location of bitcoin ATMs. We also considered the presence of major crypto businesses and industry leaders.
Here are the three top cities in the U.S. and seven leading cities globally for bitcoin adoption with their number of ATMs as of June 15, 2024.
1. Los Angeles (1,710)
Not surprisingly, the greater Los Angeles area has the most merchants accepting bitcoin. With about 1,710 bitcoin ATMS, it has the most in the world. It also has more than 400 blockchain-related businesses, giving it the title of the city with the most companies involved in the blockchain industry.
The greater Los Angeles area has a population of more than 12 million people and is home to blockchain companies like Blockchain Council, Genesis Lab, and SoluLab.
2. Houston (1,339)
Houston, Texas, ranks second in the world for Bitcoin ATMs. It has close to 1,339 bitcoin ATMs in the area and more than 200 merchants and retailers that accept it.
The Houston area has a population of about 7.4 million people and is home to blockchain- and fintech-related businesses like Topl, Data Gumbo, and Qenta.
3. Chicago (1,120)
The Chicago, Illinois, area has about 1,120 bitcoin ATMs and more than 150 businesses and merchants that accept bitcoin.
The Chicago area has a population of about 9.5 million and hosts more than 70 blockchain- and fintech-related companies such as Mycellium, Pixelette Technologies, and Debut Infotech.
While not specifically a blockchain-related company, the CME Group is also located in the area and provides services for bitcoin and cryptocurrency investors.
4. Sydney (242)
The greater Sydney, Australia area has about 242 bitcoin ATMs and over 70 merchants and retailers that accept bitcoin.
Sydney has a population of about 5.5 million and has a large blockchain-related business footprint, with more than 185 blockchain, fintech, and crypto companies providing services, research, and development.
5. Hong Kong (171)
Honk Kong has more than 171 bitcoin ATMs and about 60 businesses that accept bitcoin as payment.
Hong Kong has a population of more than 7 million and is home to numerous crypto exchanges, blockchain, and Web 3 development companies.
6. Tbilisi (114)
Tbilsi, Geogia has 114 cryptocurrency ATMS and about eight businesses that accept bitcoin. It also has about six blockchain, crypto, and web3 companies.
The city is the capital of Georgia with a population of just over 1 million.
7. Warsaw (86)
Warsaw, Poland, has 86 bitcoin ATMS, about 40 merchants that accept bitcoin, and about 186 blockchain, web3, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things companies.
Warsaw has a population of about 1.8 million people and is built on the banks of the River Vistula, the longest river in Poland.
8. Bucharest (75)
Bucharest, Romania, has about 75 bitcoin ATMs scattered throughout the metropolis and 25 merchants and businesses that accept bitcoin.
Bucharest is the capital of Romania and has a population of about 1.8 million. It has about 16 blockchain, Web3, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things companies.
9. Vienna (51)
Vienna, Austria has about 51 bitcoin ATMs around the city, and more than 120 merchants and businesses accept bitcoin in Vienna.
Vienna is the capital of Austria, has a population of about 1.9 million, and has a large information and communications and tech company footprint of more than 6,000 companies.
10. Madrid (51)
Madrid, Spain, has about 51 bitcoin ATMs, about 12 blockchain-related companies, and close to 120 merchants and businesses that accept Bitcoin as payment.
Madrid is the capital of Spain and is a large, booming metropolis with a population of more than 3.2 million.
Runners Up
Here are some other cities adopting Bitcoin and the number of (approximate) ATMs available:
- Zurich (39)
- San Martin (32)
- Bratislava (31)
- Moscow (26)
- Dusseldorf (25)
- Yerevan (18)
- Milan (16)
- Istanbul (13)
- Paris (13)
- Guatemala City (12)
- Zagreb (10)
Other regions are becoming more accepting of bitcoin and cryptocurrency—adoption rates are rising in Vietnam, the Phillippines, Ukraine, and India. Many countries experiencing economic uncertainty and currency volatility, such as Venezuela and Zimbabwe, also are becoming more crypto-friendly.
Which City Uses Bitcoin the Most?
Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston are well-known in the crypto industry for crypto and bitcoin adoption. Worldwide, cities throughout Europe have adopted crypto, as have cities in Asia such as Tokyo, Seoul, and many others.
What Is the Best Place to Live With Bitcoin?
If you want to use your bitcoin, you might want to consider living in an area that accepts it. Some of the countries increasingly adopting crypto are Vietnam, the Philippines, India, the U.S., Brazil, and Thailand. However, businesses in many countries allow crypto, and you can access it from anywhere, so you can live and use bitcoin in a wide variety of places.
Which State Uses Bitcoin the Most in the US?
California tops the bitcoin usage charts, according to CoinTracker.
The Bottom Line
Since the first block was mined in 2009, bitcoin has made substantial progress in becoming a widely adopted payment method. The impressive rate of adoption suggests that virtual currencies are here to stay. While it is not surprising that international financial centers have embraced bitcoin, it’s interesting that smaller towns have done so, too.