Arizona Has 219 Bitcoin-Accepting Merchants, With Two Scottsdale Stops Put to the Test

Bitcoin Magazine says Arizona now has more than 219 verified merchants that accept bitcoin, and the article uses two real-world purchases in Scottsdale to show what that looks like in practice. Writer Vagabond said Arizona passed a Strategic Arizona Bitcoin Reserve in 2025, though he added that, to his understanding, the state still has not bought any coins. Rather than wait for government adoption, he asked friends who had never used bitcoin in person to download a Lightning wallet, receive some satoshis, and try spending them at local businesses listed on BTC Map. They first visited Pita Cafe, where the cashier initially hesitated before noticing the Square terminal was already configured for bitcoin. They then went to Echo Coffee, where the cashier immediately switched the terminal and had them scan a QR code. The piece closes with an appendix listing 219 Arizona merchants across categories including coffee shops, restaurants, retail, barbers, health services, automotive, electronics, home services, professional services, pets, and community venues.