Why Spend Your Sats?

A few weeks ago, I walked into a coffee shop and saw the Square logo on the point of sale device.

So I asked to pay with Bitcoin.

Not because I thought it would change the world. Not because I was trying to prove a point.

I just wanted to see what would happen.

The payment itself took seconds, but the conversation that followed lasted much longer. The owner got curious and started asking questions. The other two employees chimed in. Bitcoin went from abstract to tangible simply because I wanted a double shot of espresso.

This experience shifted my perspective on spending bitcoin through third parties like Square. Previously, I figured if the merchant isn’t actually holding the sats, I’ll just use a credit card.

But seeing the owner’s curiosity and the fruitful conversation that followed changed my mind.

I brought this up with Adam Simecka, founder of Manna Wallet, on the latest episode of the We Are Satoshi Podcast.

One of Adam’s core beliefs is that Bitcoin adoption doesn’t happen when people buy Bitcoin. It happens when they use it.

It’s a simple idea, but so many bitcoin holders don’t grasp it.

A lot of us spend hours discussing adoption, scaling, Lightning, self-custody, stablecoins, and the future of money. But sometimes the best way to understand where Bitcoin is headed is to stop theorizing and actually use it.

Whether you agree with Adam’s conclusions or not, this conversation made me think differently about what adoption really looks like.

Check out the full episode and subscribe on YouTube!