When we talk about cryptocurrency, one of the first things we think about is trading coins between people who already own them. There is also a large group of people who don’t consider cryptocurrency to have value at all – and that no one buys them, it’s just a lot of band-wagon nonsense.
But when bitcoin first hit, the internet retailers were scrambling to make sure that they could accept them. Often without understanding how they could be used once they did take them.
While there has been an overall decline in retailers who did accept bitcoin, it is rising once again.
So what does the new surge look like?
The price of a single Bitcoin unit has climbed from $10,000 to $30,000 in 2020-2021. The technology underpinning the money is called Bitcoin and used by Square and IBM to create and improve payment systems.
But did you know you can buy from Amazon? No, many people don’t. A third-party service called Purse allows users to buy through them.
It’s an exciting concept to buy coffee machines and shoes from the world’s biggest retailer, via a completely digital transaction, with digital cash.
The issue with Purse quickly became apparent, though – it was the markup. $40 spend could quickly become closer to $50. The process is more streamlined now and worth looking at, simply for its interest.
Let’s break it into sections and cover some retailers, services, and others that accept bitcoin (and some other cryptocurrencies).
Services providers
It makes complete sense for many services to start accepting bitcoin as payment in a digital world. Before you start buying and spending, you should always watch Bitcoin Interest rates. Ensure you always know when to spend, when to save, and when to buy.
- AT&T, for example, is a cell service provider.
- Use Bitcoin to subscribe to an online news service such as Bloomberg or the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Dish Network is a direct-broadcast satellite services company based in the United States.
- ExpressVPN is a secure, high-speed VPN network.
- Namecheap is a provider of hosting services and domain names.
- NordVPN, a Malta-based no-log VPN service.
- ProtonMail is a secure email service that encrypts data from beginning to end.
- Reddit premium features may be purchased with Bitcoin.
- Twitch is a platform for live broadcasting.
- Vultr is a hosting web service.
- WordPress is an open-source CMS for building web pages and blogs.
Online Stores
While many retailers don’t, and likely never will, accept bitcoin or another cryptocurrency as payment, some will. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the ones that are tech-forward.
1. Overstock is a well-known online business that takes Bitcoin payments and actively supports them.
2. Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the United States.
3. Newegg is an e-commerce behemoth that accepts Bitcoin for most of its inventory.
4. Shopify is an e-commerce platform akin to Etsy and eBay that allows users to construct their online businesses.
5. Microsoft, one of the largest corporations in the world, allows customers to deposit money into their accounts using Bitcoin.
Travel
When it comes to travel providers, they are some of the most competitive companies on earth, and they like to stay modern too. Since more investors and world travelers invest in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, they must cater to their clients.
So here are a couple of options when it comes to your travel.
1. AirBaltic is the world’s first airline to accept Bitcoin as payment for flights.
2. Expedia is one of the world’s leading online travel booking firms that supports BTC for hotel reservations. It plans to include it as a payment method for tickets, attractions, and more in the future.
3. Bitcoin is accepted by Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline headed by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson.
Learning
Bitcoin should be used just like regular money is, and part of that is education. While not all universities will accept bitcoin, we might see more open to the idea as it becomes more prevalent.
- Curtin University is a prominent Australian university that offers programs in architecture, business, engineering, computer technology, and other fields.
- European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Is a German university that attracts many international students.
- The King’s College, a New York City-based Christian liberal arts college.
- Treehouse is a company that specializes in interactive education and accepts Bitcoin for a variety of courses.
Depending on your investment preferences, it is also possible to turn your bitcoin into gold and silver. In then, Bitcoin has never been as easy to access and use for everyday items as it is now. The real question is, how would you spend yours?
One of the essential things is why you buy bitcoin or any other currency you get it from a reliable source – check this post for options: What Are the Top Considerations When Selecting a Cryptocurrency Exchange? – Rita Reviews.