The Bitcoin network has demonstrated its formidable capacity as a high-value settlement layer, processing an estimated $6.9 trillion in transaction volume over the last quarter. This figure places its throughput on a scale comparable to major traditional payment processors like Visa. However, the nature of this activity differs significantly. The vast majority of this volume is attributed to large-scale, wholesale transfers and institutional settlement rather than everyday consumer purchases. While the network’s infrastructure proves capable of handling enormous value, its integration for point-of-sale transactions, such as buying a cup of coffee, remains minimal on a global scale. This highlights the current dichotomy in Bitcoin’s utility: it is increasingly functioning as a robust backbone for substantial value transfer, yet widespread merchant adoption for retail payments continues to develop at a much slower pace compared to established international payment networks.
