In 2025, the Arizona state government passed legislation to establish a Strategic Arizona Bitcoin Reserve, although the state has not yet purchased any coins. Currently, there are over 219 verified merchants across the state that accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.
Recent tests conducted in Scottsdale demonstrated the practical use of the Lightning Network for small transactions. Users successfully paid for meals at Pita Cafe and beverages at Echo Coffee using mobile wallets and QR code scanning on existing payment terminals.
At Pita Cafe, the payment process was completed via a Square terminal. While the cashier was initially uncertain about Bitcoin acceptance, the transaction was processed successfully. Echo Coffee staff were already familiar with the payment method and facilitated the transaction by scanning a QR code.
The initiative aims to encourage the use of Bitcoin for daily purchases rather than solely as an investment asset. Merchants interested in joining the directory of Bitcoin-accepting businesses can submit their information to the publication for verification.
