We present a spatial analysis of Bitcoin-accepting merchants using BTC Map, a global crowdsourced dataset built on OpenStreetMap, to provide ground-level evidence on Bitcoin’s payment ecosystem. While prior research emphasizes macroeconomic drivers, our analysis of approximately 11,000 merchants shows that local adoption is more strongly shaped by community dynamics and sectoral niches. Acknowledging quality variance in crowdsourced data, we focus on verified regional clusters. We find a global concentration of adoption in the hospitality sector, localised clusters driven by grassroots initiatives rather than national policy and significant presence in alternative healthcare and IT services. These findings highlight the limits of top-down interventions such as El Salvador’s legal tender law and underscore the role of social networks in sustaining adoption.
I haven't had the chance to read too much of this and the graphics don't reveal much immediate insight, but here's a list of the Fifty countries with the greatest number of merchants accepting Bitcoin payments ordered by number plus the corresponding number verified in the past twelve months: