Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Making Your Crypto Useful: How to Spend, Send and Save with Crypto
Ruby Layram
10th Apr 2025
Once upon a time, crypto was that mysterious digital thing only tech nerds talked about. Now? It’s a mainstream financial product that’s changing the way we transfer money and value.
In 2025, there are increasingly more ways that you can use crypto, from buying everyday goods to sending money to your friends. Digital currency is set to transform the financial future, making it easier than ever before to use your money on your own terms.
In this post, we will take a look at how to spend, send and save with crypto.
Spending Crypto
First, let’s take a look at the ins and outs of spending crypto (using cryptocurrency to buy things!).
Once upon a time (okay, in 2010), a bloke paid 10,000 Bitcoin for two pizzas. Today, those would be worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
But before you get too upset about that, let’s focus on the good news: crypto is now widely accepted by businesses, and you don’t need to be a tech genius to spend it.
Where Can You Spend Crypto?
You can buy almost anything with crypto these days- as long as the company accepts crypto payments or supports crypto-powered debit cards.
Many online retailers, including Microsoft and Overstock, now let you pay directly with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital currencies. Some cafés, restaurants, and even pub chains have joined the trend, making it possible to grab your morning coffee with crypto.
Travel is also crypto-friendly, with platforms like Travala and Expedia allowing bookings with digital currencies. Even if a store doesn’t accept crypto directly, you can use services like Bitrefill to buy gift cards for brands like Amazon, Uber, and Netflix.
The introduction of crypto debit cards has made it possible to pay with crypto pretty much anywhere!
How to Buy Things with Crypto
So, how exactly can you buy things with crypto?
The most popular way is to use a crypto-powered debit card. Crypto debit cards work just like regular bank cards, but are funded with cryptocurrency. Some companies offer prepaid Visa or Mastercard options that instantly convert your crypto into fiat (aka regular money) at the point of purchase.
Crypto native companies like Kraken have also entered partnerships with the likes of Mastercard to allow their UK and European users to soon spend their crypto balances at their favourite retailers. You can learn more and sign up for Kraken’s upcoming crypto-powered payments and savings offering here.
QR code payments are another convenient way to use cryptocurrency for purchases. Many businesses that accept crypto generate a QR code linked to their wallet, allowing you to scan and complete the transaction instantly. It’s quick, secure, and eliminates the need for lengthy and complicated wallet addresses.
For a more direct approach, some companies allow direct wallet transfers. This means you can send your crypto straight from your wallet to theirs- no middleman involved. It’s a simple and effective way to pay, especially for peer-to-peer transactions or businesses that operate entirely in crypto.
Sending Crypto Anywhere in Seconds
One of crypto’s biggest strengths? Instant cross-border transfers. Say goodbye to bank fees, middlemen, and waiting days for your money to arrive.
The benefits of sending money using crypto
- No bank hassles: No paperwork, no account limits, no waiting for business hours.
- Lower transaction fees: Some cryptocurrencies (like XRP and Stellar) allow near-instant transactions for a fraction of a penny.
- Avoid costly spreads: Some financial companies that offer multinational transactions will advertise that they offer 0% commission or no fees, but in reality they give you a terrible exchange rate to make up the difference. This isn’t the case with transferring crypto.
- Fast transfers: Traditional international transfers can take days. With crypto, it’s minutes or even seconds.
Best Ways to Send Crypto
So, what are the best ways to send crypto in 2025?
Peer-to-Peer Transfers
Just like sending money via PayPal or Revolut, you can send Bitcoin (or any crypto) directly to someone’s wallet address.
This is perhaps the easiest way to send crypto especially if you’re someone who already uses digital banking!
Crypto Remittance Services
Companies like BitPesa and Strike allow crypto-to-fiat remittances, making it easier for recipients who don’t use crypto. This is a good option if you would like to send crypto to someone who doesn’t already use crypto themselves.
Stablecoins for Transfers
If you’re sending money and don’t want the value to fluctuate, stablecoins like USDT (Tether), USDG and USDC are a smart choice.
You can send stablecoins directly to other wallet addresses or through apps like Kraken Pay.
Saving Crypto
So, you don’t want to spend all your crypto just yet? Smart move! There are plenty of ways to grow your digital assets without doing much at all.
Just like fiat currency, you can save your crypto in savings accounts and staking pools. This allows you to grow the value of your crypto over time.
2. Staking for Passive Income
Some cryptocurrencies allow you to ‘stake’ your holdings, meaning you lock them up in exchange who use them to help validate the integrity of the network. By participating in staking, you earn rewards, kind of like earning interest on a savings account when your bank lends your money to someone to get a mortgage for a house.
Some cryptos that offer staking:
- Ethereum (ETH): Stake the second-largest crypto by market cap and earn rewards for securing the network.
- Cardano (ADA): One of the most popular staking coins with solid returns.
- Polkadot (DOT) & Solana (SOL): These offer high staking rewards with relatively low effort.
If you are interested, read our guide on how to stake crypto for passive returns.
3. Earning Interest with Crypto Savings Accounts
Crypto savings accounts function similarly to traditional bank savings but with much higher interest rates.
Platforms like Nexo and Youhodler offer up to 8% APY (or more!) on stablecoins and major cryptos.
Before you decide whether or not to lock up your crypto in a savings account, it is important to understand the risks that are involved. The value of your crypto could drop while it is locked away, leaving you unable to sell before experiencing significant losses.
4. Earn Stablecoin Yield
Some crypto platforms, such as Kraken, offer their users yield for simply holding stablecoins in their account. With Kraken you can earn 2% for simply having USDG, and up to 4.1% if you’re a Kraken+ monthly subscriber.
The Future of Spending, Sending and Saving Crypto
Crypto isn’t just a speculative asset. It’s a real, functional currency that’s becoming more mainstream every year.
With financial institutions, payment networks, and even governments exploring digital currencies, the ways you can spend, send, and save crypto will only keep growing.
So, whether you’re using Bitcoin to buy your morning latte, sending Ethereum to a friend overseas, or earning passive income by staking Cardano, one thing is clear: crypto is here to stay.
Ready to make your crypto work for you? I recommend taking time to conduct further research into each of the methods that we have discussed to find one that suits your experience, goals and risk tolerance.
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Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence. Companies listed above are not necessarily endorsed by Money Magpie. When investing your capital is at risk.
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