16.Oct.2026
Published by Velvet22. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with Cash App (Block, Inc.) or Coinbase. Cash App instructions were checked against live help pages in November 2026. Coinbase instructions were checked against archived official help pages dated October 2026 (general sending), July 2026 (available balance) and December 2025 (Lightning), because the live pages were unavailable during research. Screens and regional availability can change; check the current app before paying. This is general educational information, not financial, legal or tax advice.
Paying a merchant in Bitcoin usually means one thing: you receive a payment request, either a Bitcoin address or a Lightning invoice, and you send exactly what it asks for from an app you already use. This guide explains how to do that from Cash App and from the Coinbase app. It also covers checks that can reduce the risk of costly mistakes.
Use either service only for payments permitted by its terms and by the law where you live.
Two separate things have to happen before you can pay:
Cash App also has sending limits. Its Sending and Receiving Bitcoin page says limits are measured over rolling 1-day, 7-day and 30-day periods, and that you can view yours under Profile → Limits.
Practical takeaway: If a merchant's invoice expires in, say, an hour, buy your Bitcoin before you open the invoice, and confirm it shows as available to send.
Before you touch either app, look at what the merchant is asking for:
Never pay an expired invoice and never reuse an old Lightning invoice. Ask the merchant for a fresh one.
Cash App's help centre lists these steps for sending Bitcoin by Lightning or the Bitcoin network (source):
For Lightning there's a second route: Money tab → Bitcoin tile → QR icon (top right) → scan or paste the Lightning invoice → confirm.
Things Cash App's help pages point out:
These steps are for the main Coinbase app and Coinbase.com, not the separate Base/Coinbase Wallet app. They come from Coinbase's Steps to send crypto page.
In the Coinbase mobile app:
On Coinbase.com: from your Dashboard choose Send crypto → select the asset and amount → select To and choose a supported network → enter the address → Preview Send → Send now.
Paying a Lightning invoice: Coinbase's Bitcoin Lightning page describes these steps: sign in → Transfer → Send crypto → select Bitcoin → add the recipient's invoice → Continue → preview → Send now. Coinbase says it reads the amount from the invoice automatically. It also notes:
Coinbase also warns that on-chain sends "are irreversible" and incur network fees. It says it can't retrieve funds sent to an incorrect address or on an incorrect network, and that crypto sends "may be temporarily capped in certain circumstances."
| Bitcoin network (on-chain) | Lightning | |
|---|---|---|
| What you need | A Bitcoin address plus the amount | A Lightning invoice (amount usually included) |
| Typical cost | Network fee shown by the app | Usually lower; Coinbase lists a Lightning processing fee in its fee disclosures |
| Speed | Needs blockchain confirmations | Usually fast, but can fail or be delayed |
| Use when | The invoice gives a Bitcoin address | The merchant explicitly offers Lightning |
Exact fees change with network conditions and app pricing. Always read the fee on the review screen before you confirm.
Can I pay a Lightning invoice from Cash App? Cash App's help centre says you can send Bitcoin using Lightning, except for New York customers.
Can I pay a Lightning invoice from Coinbase? The archived Coinbase guidance supports Lightning invoices, not Lightning addresses, and excludes New York and Canada. Confirm current eligibility and invoice support in the app.
Why can't I send the Bitcoin I just bought on Coinbase? The cash used to buy it may be on hold. Coinbase emails you the date it becomes available to transfer.
What if I send the wrong coin or network? Coinbase says funds sent on an incorrect network can't be recovered by Coinbase, and Cash App says external sends can't be reversed. Contact the merchant, but recovery isn't guaranteed.
Do I owe tax when I spend Bitcoin? In many countries spending crypto can be a taxable event. Ask a qualified tax adviser where you live.
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