PayPal alternatives today (Nov 10, 2025): Square flips on Bitcoin payments, Paystand buys Bitwage, and wallets march toward 6B users

If you’ve been shopping for free PayPal alternatives, today delivered a cluster of updates across crypto payments, instant rails, and cross‑border platforms. Below is your fast, factual roundup—plus what it means for consumers and merchants comparing options like Square/Cash App, Wise, Zelle/FedNow, Apple/Google Pay, and more. (Context: yesterday BGR highlighted five “free PayPal alternatives”; here’s what’s new today and what to watch next.) ^[1]

Square’s Bitcoin Payments switch is set to turn on today in the U.S., with 0% processing fees through 2026, settlement in BTC or USD, Lightning support, and no chargebacks—positioning Square/Cash App as a compelling alternative for fee‑sensitive sellers. ^[2]
Paystand acquired Bitwage, adding mass stablecoin payouts (USDC/USDT/BTC/ETH) and FX to its B2B AP/AR network—aimed at faster, cheaper global payroll and vendor payments across ~200 countries. ^[3]
Digital wallets keep surging: new research today projects >6B users by 2030 (over three‑quarters of the global population), reinforcing that wallet‑to‑wallet is becoming the default way to pay. ^[4]

Today’s biggest moves, explained

1) Square turns on Bitcoin at the register (U.S. only)

Square’s Bitcoin Payments—announced in October—begin rolling out today (Nov 10, 2025). Sellers can accept Lightning payments with zero processing fees until 2027, settle in BTC or USD, and leverage a built‑in Bitcoin Wallet. Square also emphasizes no chargebacks for bitcoin transactions (refunds via gift cards only), which can be attractive for fraud‑prone categories but requires clear customer policies. Availability excludes New York for now. ^[5]

Why it matters if you want a PayPal alternative: For micro‑margins and high‑chargeback categories, Square’s 0% promo and instant settlement create a cost and cash‑flow story that’s hard to ignore. Sellers focused on mainstream cards and P2P still have PayPal/Venmo, but crypto‑tolerant merchants get a new “free‑ish” rail to try before fees kick in. ^[6]

2) Paystand buys Bitwage to supercharge stablecoin payouts

Paystand (a SoftBank‑backed B2B payments firm) acquired Bitwage. The deal folds Bitwage’s API‑driven engine for mass stablecoin payroll/payouts—supporting USDC, USDT, BTC, ETH—into Paystand’s AR/AP network. The companies say the stack will offer near‑instant cross‑border settlement, automated on‑chain reconciliation, and staged rollout by corridor. If you’re paying contractors globally, this is a credible crypto‑native alternative to legacy wires. ^[7]

3) MoneyGram adds AI‑driven risk intelligence for cross‑border

MoneyGram is adopting Oscilar’s decisioning platform to unify fraud, compliance, and AML operations, including device fingerprinting and behavioral analytics. For consumers and SMBs sending money, smarter risk controls often translate into fewer false declines and faster clears—a win for wallet and remittance alternatives. ^[8]

4) Wallets are winning—fast

A new Juniper Research release today forecasts digital wallet users will surpass 6B by 2030, crossing the three‑quarters‑of‑humanity threshold. For shoppers, that means more acceptance and features (IDs, transit, loyalty). For merchants, it means optimizing checkout for wallets first—and often bypassing card‑not‑present friction. ^[9]

5) Instant payments: higher limits unlock bigger use cases

The U.S. FedNow instant‑payments network’s maximum transaction value is increasing to $10M this month (November 2025). That opens wallet‑to‑account and account‑to‑account instant flows for larger invoices (real estate, B2B, treasury) and enhances bank‑based alternatives to card‑centric systems. ^[10]

What this means if you’re choosing a PayPal alternative

For consumers

Everyday tap‑to‑pay: Apple Pay / Google Wallet remain the simplest at brick‑and‑mortar. Expect continued ID, ticket, and pass integrations that make these wallets “sticky.”
International transfers: Wise shines for transparent FX and mid‑market rates—handy if you regularly send money abroad. ^[11]
Remittances and P2P: MoneyGram’s risk upgrades and bank‑powered rails (Zelle/FedNow) continue to reduce friction and fraud—though each has usage boundaries and dispute differences. ^[12]

For merchants & creators

Fee pressure: Square’s bitcoin promo (0% through 2026) creates near‑term leverage against card and wallet fees; test it in low‑risk SKUs and build clear refund policies given no chargebacks. ^[13]
Cross‑border payouts: If you run multi‑country payroll or pay contractors and affiliates, Paystand+Bitwage may cut costs and delays vs. wires—without sacrificing reconciliation. Pilot where recipients already use USDC/USDT. ^[14]
Instant settlement at scale: As FedNow’s $10M limit lands, ask your bank or PSP how to enable instant invoicing and high‑value A2A collections for B2B scenarios. ^[15]

The state of PayPal (and what to watch next)

AI & commerce: Late October saw PayPal’s wallet integrated with OpenAI’s ChatGPT—a sign that commerce is moving into chat interfaces. Expect more “agentic” shopping flows that route to the cheapest or fastest available payment rail, including non‑PayPal options. ^[16]
UPI link‑up: UPI (India’s instant scheme) is the first payments system partner onboarded to PayPal World, the cross‑border platform PayPal is rolling out; keep an eye out as those integrations light up across corridors. ^[17]

Editor’s notes for buyers and teams

Compliance & risk: Cash App/Square’s growth comes with regulatory scrutiny; do your KYC/KYB homework and set risk policies—especially if you plan to accept bitcoin at the point of sale. ^[18]
User experience wins: Wallets are displacing passwords and PAN entry. Prioritize express checkout buttons and wallets in your cart flow to lift conversion—whether you’re using PayPal, Stripe, or a direct‑to‑wallet strategy.

FAQ

Is Square’s Bitcoin Payments “free forever”?
No. Square says bitcoin payment processing is 0% through 2026, then 1% starting in 2027. Also note no chargebacks for bitcoin and a $600 per‑transaction limit at launch. ^[19]

Do stablecoin payouts really help?
For global payroll and contractor payouts, stablecoins can reduce FX costs and settlement times; Paystand’s Bitwage deal is explicitly aimed at mass stablecoin payouts with on‑chain reconciliation. Your compliance posture and recipient wallet readiness still matter. ^[20]

Are digital wallets overtaking cards?
Not everywhere yet, but the trajectory is clear: >6B wallet users by 2030 per Juniper’s new projection—and many merchants already see higher conversion with wallet buttons than with card form fills. ^[21]

Sources

Square press and product pages confirming Nov 10 launch, 0% (promo) fees, Lightning support, no chargebacks, availability exclusions, and $600 limit. ^[22]
FinTech Futures on Paystand–Bitwage acquisition and feature set. ^[23]
FinTech Futures on MoneyGram–Oscilar for risk intelligence. ^[24]
Juniper Research release on global wallet adoption. ^[25]
Federal Reserve FedNow documentation noting $10M network transaction limit in Nov 2025. ^[26]
Reuters on China’s internet platforms cautiously reviving consumer lending, signaling a thaw in fintech lending after a long crackdown. ^[27]
Reuters on PayPal’s OpenAI/ChatGPT payments integration (context). ^[28]

How to use this roundup

Consumers: If PayPal fees or outages have pushed you to look elsewhere, try Apple Pay/Google Wallet in‑store and Wise for cross‑border transfers; compare speed/fees before you commit. ^[29]
Merchants: Run an A/B test: wallet‑first checkout + instant A2A where supported; pilot Square Bitcoin on limited SKUs; and evaluate stablecoin payouts for international partners where it’s legal and practical. ^[30]

How to Send Bitcoin on PayPal to Another Wallet | 2025

Watch this video on YouTube.

References