They stopped being just a checkout option and became part of everyday business operations.
According to a new industry report, merchants increasingly used crypto not only to accept payments, but also to settle funds, run payouts, and manage treasury flows. This shift signals that crypto is moving from the edges of commerce into the financial backbone of global businesses.
How Merchants Used Crypto to Operate
Bitcoin returned to the top spot in crypto payments, accounting for 22.1 percent of all transactions. The Bitcoin network, including the Lightning Network, was the most widely used payment rail, reflecting demand for secure and fast settlement. Litecoin remained the third most used payment asset and briefly became the second choice during the summer, showing its continued relevance for low fee payments.
1/7 Crypto payments in 2025 were not just about checkout.
They became part of everyday business operations.
Our latest report shows how merchants used crypto to settle funds, run payouts, and manage treasury flows. 👇 pic.twitter.com/tSTWMSWIZx
— CoinGate (@CoinGatecom) January 21, 2026
Other networks also gained ground. TRX payment share rose from 9.1% to 11.5 percent, while Ethereum increased from 8.9% to 10.6%. On the TRON network, TRX became dominant, growing from 20.2% to 80.3% of network payments later in the year. As a result, 58.5% of all TRON payments were made using TRX.
Ethereum also regained relevance through stablecoin activity. Layer 2 networks such as Polygon, Arbitrum, and Base saw growing use as businesses looked for lower fees and faster settlement while staying connected to Ethereum’s ecosystem. A real world example is online service platforms paying global freelancers in USDC on Ethereum or Layer 2 networks, reducing bank delays and foreign exchange costs.
3/7 The Bitcoin network, including the Lightning Network, was the most widely used payment network.
TRX share on the TRON network increased from 20.2% to 80.3% in later months, resulting in 58.5% of all TRON payments being made in TRX.
Ethereum regained relevance, especially… pic.twitter.com/u5sbd84ba1
— CoinGate (@CoinGatecom) January 21, 2026
Settlements, Payouts, and Global Reach
One of the clearest signs of maturity was how merchants handled settlements. The share of businesses settling in crypto instead of fiat rose from 27% to 37.5%. This suggests that more companies are holding crypto and stablecoins as working capital rather than immediately converting to cash.
5/7 Settlements: what merchants did after receiving payments?
More merchants chose to settle in crypto instead of fiat.
Crypto settlements increased from 27% to 37.5%, indicating that businesses are increasingly holding crypto and stablecoins as working capital. pic.twitter.com/TmQ6qgtE6I
— CoinGate (@CoinGatecom) January 21, 2026
Crypto payouts also became a practical business tool. Merchants used digital assets to pay vendors, partners, affiliates, and contractors. The most popular payout assets were USDC, Bitcoin, and Ethereum, reflecting a balance between price stability and liquidity.
7/7 Crypto in 2025 through our services was used to receive funds, hold value, and move money between businesses.
Read the full Crypto Payments Report to see how crypto payments became operational 👇https://t.co/QGnpDLUIMM
— CoinGate (@CoinGatecom) January 21, 2026
Crypto payments remained global throughout 2025. The United States led in transaction volume, the Netherlands moved into the top three countries, and Nigeria remained one of the most active markets. By region, Europe accounted for the largest share of payments, followed by North America, Asia, Africa, and South America.
Disclaimer
The information provided by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. It is intended solely for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes. Any opinions or strategies shared are those of the writer/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not liable for any losses you may incur from investments related to the information given. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk assets; therefore, conduct thorough due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.
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Lloyd Grisby