AT&T announced that it is now accepting crypto payments through BitPay. With the announcement, AT&T becomes the first major U.S. mobile carrier to provide a cryptocurrency payment option to customers.
According to the press release, AT&T has finished the integration process. Users can now make payments with Bitpay via the AT&T website or through the mobile app.While speaking to reporters, Kevin McDorman, the Vice President of Communications Finance Business Operations at AT&T, stated:
“We’re always looking for ways to improve and expand our services. We have customers who use cryptocurrency, and we are happy; we can offer them a way to pay their bills with the method they prefer.”
An AT&T spokesperson added that this new move would help provide better services to customers. He stated:
“BitPay provides payment processing services for merchants and is one of the largest bitcoin payment processors in the world. Our customers are on this platform, and we are always looking for different ways to better serve our customers.”
According to the information given by Chief Commercial Officer at BitPay Sonny Singh, the partnership between the two companies began last year when BitPay reached out to AT&T. Commenting on the news, Singh said, “AT&T did a great job making this happen.”
Since the beginning of this 2019, many companies have come out to accept cryptocurrency as payment for products and services. Whole Foods is one of the latest companies to join the list. Starbucks is also accepting crypto now.
Ensuring more companies will join the ranks, Flexa has teamed up with Gemini to bring crypto capabilities to thousands of retailers instantly. The system works by integrating with the digital scanners used by retailers for phone-based payments—such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay—to facilitate crypto payments.
Other major retailers, such as Overstock.com have been accepting cryptocurrency for a long time now. They have gone so far as to support the industry very vocally.
However, some companies, who initially accepted crypto payments, have had to turn it off. These include sites like Steam, Rakuten and Expedia.
AT&T is among many United Stated companies to obtain a blockchain-based patent as well. The company applied for a patent related to “mapping” social media interactions of users, potentially creating a permanent record of social media activity, for advertising purposes.
New to blockchain? Check out CoinGeek’s Blockchain for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about blockchain technology.
