In the past, using cryptocurrency to buy products felt similar to using Monopoly money to pay for a cup of coffee since the experience usually ended with a strange reaction from the seller. You would receive brief stares followed by brief greetings that marked the end of the transaction.
But in 2025? It’s different. SHIB permits hotel bookings along with purchasing streetwear through NFTs while getting VPN subscriptions without banking involvement. Users no longer need to imagine a futuristic use of crypto since this technology is rapidly transforming into practical applications every day in the real world.
This guide is designed for people who want to experience their first crypto wallet-based purchase in the crypto world. The guide provides essential information about what works and what to skip and introduces methods for creating a stress-free on-chain transaction process.
The State of Spending: Crypto’s Not Just for Traders Anymore
Numerous people believe cryptocurrency exists solely for investing activities since they purchase coins and monitor price charts with possible sleepless nights. But a growing wave of users? People are choosing transactions without any chart analysis.
Take Shopify, for example. A wide range of online retailers including art print and hiking boot stores now accept payments through Web3 wallet support. Telegram? The Toncoin (TON) payment system within Telegram mini-apps and gaming platform operates at record-breaking speeds. Like, blink-and-it’s-done fast.
Niche online retailers as well as the travel website Travala embrace meme coins including PEPE and DOGE and SHIB even though these were once dismissed by society. The villa reservation system of Bali accepts payments through DOGE currency. That’s wild. And kind of beautiful.
Data check: A CoinDesk survey earlier this year showed 1 in 5 Gen Z users globally made a purchase using crypto in Q1 of 2025. That’s more than traditional finance folks expected, and yeah — it’s a sign.
The big shift? The waiting period for mass adoption has ended since people have started employing their existing technologies today. People currently utilize whatever cryptocurrencies they possess at their disposal. People opt for payments in PEPE coins while purchasing hoodies from NFT merchandise shops for $12.
Step One: Get Yourself a Crypto Wallet That Doesn’t Suck
Okay, harsh — but hear me out.
Your cryptocurrency wallet is your toolkit. And if it’s clunky, confusing, or buried in jargon, you’ll quit before you ever hit “Buy.” That’s where Plus Wallet earns its stripes. It’s self-custodial (so you control your keys), but the UX doesn’t feel like you need a PhD in blockchain.
A few things I like:
- You can swap between coins like BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP inside the app — no need for extra platforms.
- You earn USDT rewards from transactions and referrals. It’s like cashback, but crypto-native.
- The design? Actually clean. Like, your non-crypto friend could figure it out.
This matters. Because spending crypto shouldn’t feel like launching a rocket. It should feel like… Apple Pay, but cooler.
“People don’t want more features. They want fewer steps,” said Rachel Huo (ex-MetaMask designer) during a panel at ETHDenver. Couldn’t agree more.
What You Can Buy (Spoiler: It’s More Than You Think)
The current market presents what items can people actually purchase? This article avoids theory and cuts straight to what you can truly buy.
- Digital stuff: Customers can use digital goods as their initial encounter into the digital space thanks to VPNs (ProtonVPN takes crypto), AI tools like Writesonic and domain name purchases through ENS and Unstoppable.
- Gift cards: Credit platforms like Bitrefill enable users to obtain Amazon or Uber or gaming card purchases using SHIB or DOGE as payment. This purchase works perfectly for those who want to begin stepping into the crypto world.
- Physical products? Yup. Newegg provides an opportunity for customers to buy their desired tech products using crypto currency. Web3 implements NFT drops from fashion brands that grant owners access to physical collectible releases which resemble Supreme product launches.
- Experiences? Travala enables customers to plan travels and book accommodations in multiple countries through the use of cryptocurrencies that Plus Wallet supports. My purchase of a Tokyo vacation through SHIB felt entertaining in an unfamiliar way.
Certain stores enable payment through Web3 wallets that use WalletConnect as the payment platform. The transactions do not require credit cards and avoid traditional banking institutions and waits of up to three days to settle deals. Just “connect, approve, done.”
Side note: Reddit’s old NFT avatar project? Many wallet owners took advantage of their wallets to obtain access to merchandising products before others. NFTs as receipts is a thing. You heard it here first.
What My First Purchase Taught Me (Spoiler: It Wasn’t Sexy)
At first I made a purchase that lacked any showy element. No designer NFT sneakers or blockchain Rolex.
My first on-chain purchase? A domain on ENS. I completed my first transaction by paying with Ethereum before the system verified my purchase resulting in ownership of my name within the blockchain. But it felt different. The token possessed a reality greater than any past monetary transaction of mine.
My advancement in 2024 changed everything by directly sending payment through wallets to a freelance illustrator. The artist transmitted an NFT receipt to me which allowed us to operate without using banking institutions. This transaction came without any surprising service fees and avoided currency conversions between our two platforms. Just pure, peer-to-peer value.
After that transaction I had switched how I thought about these digital assets. The leap happened when I discovered that crypto offered more than financial value because it gave me freedom and flexibility.
So, How Do You Actually Do This?
Let’s keep it simple. These steps provide an easy direct guide for purchasing something using cryptocurrency:
- Grab Plus Wallet. Users can access all the major tokens through this free platform which has an elegant design and allows peer-to-peer value exchange for SHIB and other tokens including PEPE and DOGE as well as WLD.
- Fund it. You can fund your account through the app’s purchasing system or execute an internal wallet to exchange transfer.
- Find something to buy. Bitrefill offers gift cards as the first step followed by checking NFT marketplaces with physical rewards which sometimes include airdropped discount tokens.
- Connect your wallet by allowing the transaction to be executed. This is the fun part. No forms. Just connect and click.
- Celebrate your first on-chain buy. The wave of tomorrow’s commerce is complete with you as an active player.
Pro tip: Check gas fees before confirming. They’re usually tiny now, but double-check. Polygon and TON are especially cheap.
Spending Crypto Is the On-Ramp We’ve Been Waiting For
I actively support the activities of stacking Bitcoin Satoshi Ting (Sats) and holding digital crypto assets. The reality of cryptocurrency sets in only through actual use for meaningful purposes including online purchases of digital artwork or t-shirts.
The next bull run? Crypto adoption throughout this next bull run will occur as a result of genuine merchant activity alongside major low-level technology developments. People who purchase with cryptocurrency will drive the next bull run because they will make actual token-based transactions one by one.
Furthermore wallets like Plus Wallet play an essential role since they reduce the complexity while enhancing security and delivering reward benefits during the crypto-spending experience.
Society no longer needs to ask only what crypto purchases are possible.
You ought to attempt right now.