There have been some interesting developments in the crypto payments space lately.
Regulatory developments
In some countries, crypto payments are still banned (e.g. Ethiopia). Other countries are adapting, developing initial guidelines and regulations. In countries with existing regulations, the guidelines for crypto payments are constantly being adapted. In particular, the requirements for identity verification and combating money laundering are constantly being tightened. These efforts are also being driven forward and intensified by the USA in particular.
Trends in crypto payments
Several retailers and e-commerce platforms have now integrated crypto payment methods to offer customers more flexibility when paying. This mainly includes Bitcoin and Ethereum. Bitclear is looking for more innovative retailers who are interested in accepting crypto payments online. Above all, the flexibility of our B2B platform offers innovative companies many opportunities and advantages, especially in comparison to card payments.
The following trends show that the importance and acceptance of crypto payments continues to grow, with certain industries in particular leading the way in innovation. The use of stablecoins for payments has increased as they are less volatile than traditional cryptocurrencies. Many companies are now looking into integrating stablecoins into their payment options.
Major payment service providers such as PayPal and Stripe are expanding their crypto payment offerings to meet the growing demand. In contrast to the standard solutions on the platforms of these major providers, Bitclear's platform is designed for companies looking for a very flexible solution for accepting crypto payments and for so-called exchange services.
In the gaming industry, more and more game developers and platforms are willing to accept crypto payments for in-game purchases, which increases acceptance in the gaming community.
Developments in Switzerland and Germany
Merchants can accept payments in cryptocurrencies both at the terminal in the store and online, with the amount being converted directly into Swiss francs to avoid currency risks. Acceptance points in Switzerland include airport and train station terminals, as well as various restaurants and stores.
In Germany, more and more companies are also accepting cryptocurrencies. Some branches of Subway as well as restaurants and stores listed on networks such as Coinmap (www.coinmap.org) allow payments with Bitcoin. For a few years, it was also possible to order pizzas from various providers on the PizzaForCoins platform and pay with Bitcoin. Unfortunately, the platform is no longer in operation. - In addition, other organizations such as Wikileaks can also receive donations via cryptocurrencies.
Bitclear's flexible and easy-to-configure solution is suitable for both innovative companies and NGOs to receive crypto payments and then, in a next step, exchange the credits into FIAT currency or another cryptocurrency. If you are interested, book an appointment via our homepage.