What happened? Bealls is now accepting crypto payments at hundreds of stores.
Bealls, a 110-year-old U.S. retailer, partnered with Flexa to accept more than 99 cryptocurrencies — including memecoins and stablecoins — across about 660 stores in 22 states. The point-of-sale integration lets customers pay from over 300 digital wallets and represents one of the largest planned in-store crypto rollouts so far. The company framed the move as part of preparing for the future of commerce as it celebrates its 110th anniversary.
Who does this affect? Shoppers, crypto holders, and the retail payments industry.
Customers who hold crypto now have a straightforward way to spend digital assets in-store, which could increase real-world crypto usage. Payments platforms like Flexa and wallet providers stand to gain from higher transaction volumes and visibility. Competing retailers and payment processors will be watching closely and may face pressure to offer similar crypto options to avoid losing crypto-friendly customers.
Why does this matter? It could accelerate mainstream crypto adoption and shift the payments market.
Expanding merchant acceptance at scale removes a major adoption barrier and makes crypto more useful for everyday purchases, potentially increasing demand for wallets, stablecoins, and payment rails. This move can validate crypto payment solutions, attract more partnerships between retailers and fintechs, and boost revenues for crypto payments providers. If other national retailers follow, it could reshape competition, fee structures, and investment priorities across the payments and retail sectors.