Square has announced its most significant expansion to date in the food and beverage sector, unveiling a suite of tools that combine artificial intelligence, voice technology, and cryptocurrency payments. The company said the rollout marks a new phase of innovation aimed at helping restaurants and merchants modernize their operations while preparing for a rapidly shifting digital payments landscape.
The updates include the introduction of AI-powered voice ordering for restaurants, an integrated Bitcoin payment solution for merchants, and the launch of Square Delivers, a delivery integration designed to help restaurants expand beyond in-store operations. Together, these moves highlight Square’s ambitions to deepen its presence in the competitive restaurant technology sector while also strengthening its footprint in digital currencies.
For restaurants, the AI voice ordering system is designed to handle phone-based orders with natural language processing, reducing wait times and easing the burden on staff. Customers can call a restaurant, place an order through Square’s automated system, and receive confirmation seamlessly. The company said the technology is meant to improve efficiency during peak hours and free up human staff for more complex customer service needs.
At the same time, Square is bringing cryptocurrency to the merchant level with the introduction of Bitcoin payment tools. Starting this week, businesses can accept Bitcoin transactions directly through Square’s platform, with no processing fees until 2026. The move is seen as a strategic push to normalize crypto payments in everyday commerce while giving merchants time to experiment without added costs. The company has emphasized that merchants will have flexibility to accept, convert, or hold Bitcoin depending on their financial strategy.
These tools are launching alongside Square Delivers, which integrates delivery options into the existing restaurant management ecosystem. Restaurants can now accept delivery orders through their Square systems, making it easier to manage dine-in, takeout, and delivery services from one platform. Industry analysts view the expansion as an important step for smaller and mid-sized restaurants that may not have the resources to build or maintain their own digital infrastructure for ordering and delivery.
Square executives noted that the company’s goal is to provide a full-stack platform for restaurants that covers everything from point-of-sale transactions and payroll management to marketing and customer engagement. By layering AI and Bitcoin capabilities into its offering, Square is positioning itself as not just a payments provider, but as a technology partner for merchants navigating a complex digital economy.
The food and beverage industry has become a battleground for technology providers, with competitors ranging from Toast to Lightspeed also vying for market share. Square’s latest launch underscores the demand among restaurants for tools that can help offset labor shortages, streamline operations, and meet changing consumer expectations.
Industry watchers also note that the no-fee Bitcoin option could accelerate crypto adoption in everyday purchases. While consumer use of Bitcoin for payments remains limited compared to traditional methods, offering fee-free transactions may provide the incentive merchants need to test digital currency acceptance. Square’s broader strategy with Bitcoin is consistent with its parent company Block’s long-term investment in blockchain and decentralized finance.
The company has stated that its new features are designed to scale across businesses of different sizes. Smaller restaurants can use AI voice ordering to manage busy hours without additional staff, while larger enterprises can take advantage of integrated delivery and payment systems to unify operations. Square stressed that the aim is to provide accessible and affordable technology that addresses real-world merchant needs.
The announcements arrive at a time when restaurants globally are under pressure to adapt to digital-first customer behaviors. Online ordering, mobile payments, and delivery services have become central to operations, while inflation and staffing challenges continue to test profitability. Square’s tools, combining automation and payment flexibility, are positioned to address some of these ongoing challenges.
Market analysts suggest that if adoption of these tools grows steadily, it could mark a pivotal shift in how restaurants engage with customers and handle back-end operations. For Square, the bet on AI and Bitcoin within the restaurant ecosystem reflects both a commitment to innovation and a recognition that the payments industry is increasingly intertwined with advanced technology and consumer trends.
As of now, Square has not disclosed specific adoption targets for the new features but has confirmed that the AI voice ordering and Bitcoin payments are being rolled out in phases, with wider availability expected in the coming months. The company is also working with restaurant partners to refine the systems based on early feedback.
For restaurants and merchants, the expansion signals not just new digital tools, but also an evolving partnership with one of the leading names in fintech. Whether through AI-driven ordering or cryptocurrency payments, Square is offering businesses a pathway to modernize, experiment, and potentially transform how they engage with customers in the years ahead.