This story is about Shortwave Coffee bitcoin acceptance and a massive worldwide movement. There are millions of insistent bitcoiners walking up to counters and asking the same four words, “Do you accept bitcoin?”. Half the time we already know the answer is no. We ask anyway, because the look on a cashier’s face when a stranger asks about magic internet money over a $5 latte never gets old.
This year the math shifted in our favor. In March 2026, Square began automatically switching on bitcoin acceptance for up to 4 million terminals, moving the feature from an opt-in tool to a default enrollment. The periodic rollout, though, has felt more like a trickle than a wave. Ask around and you’ll find plenty of Square terminals that haven’t yet received the update. So many of us decided to help accelerate the rollout ourselves: walking into local shops, asking for the manager, and making the case to enable bitcoin payments. This series is going to track those wins, one business at a time.
First up: Shortwave Coffee
When visiting the Saint Louis area, there are an estimated 250 independent coffee shops, and one has gained unwavering loyalty to a few bitcoiners. Why?
Shortwave Coffee started in Missouri, in 2014 as a small, family-run roastery, and it’s since grown to five locations across three states: two in Columbia, one in St. Louis, plus outposts in Minneapolis and a roastery in Tampa. They roast their own beans, pull a genuinely excellent shot of espresso, and the detail that made plebs loyal, they take bitcoin at the register.
For the last few months, a group of local bitcoiners asked the baristas, and wrote their generic company email multiple times before finally hearing yes in July 2026. The St. Louis shop sits in the Central West End at 33 N. Sarah Street. They host a beautiful outdoor patio bordered by a wildflower garden (picture attached), huge indoor coffee shop with 75+ person capacity, and ample street parking. Head two hours west and you’ll find Shortwave’s original Columbia locations which also have a great ambience. Same modern build-out, genuinely local feel, and bitcoin acceptance.
That’s really the thesis of this whole column, we can pick the top caliber shops to spend our money. If they understand high quality products and care about their customers, they will accept bitcoin when customers ask for it. Square is a great option, but bitcoin does not discriminate.
If your favorite coffee shop, mechanic, or any small business just turned bitcoin on, tell me about it. Let’s explore how this change in currency is manifesting, send it to [email protected], and we will get back to you for coverage of the story.
