Pick n Pay launches crypto payment options at all its locations

One of South Africa’s biggest supermarkets, Pick n Pay, has begun accepting Bitcoin payments at its locations after the expansion of its payments’ pilot program. 

With this initiation, customers in South Africa can pay for everyday items using bitcoin, according to a report by Sunday Times. The company claimed that it would soon make the payment option available in all of its locations. Regarding the pilot program which was started five months ago with just 10 outlets, has increased to a total of 39.

Pick n Pay selects BTC

Pick n Pay’s BTC-enabled payment gateway not only supports on-chain Bitcoin transactions but also lets users pay with Lightning wallets, making even the smallest of purchases possible. The adoption of bitcoin by El Salvador last year served as a prominent example of Lightning’s use, which keeps transaction costs to a minimum and ensures almost immediate payouts. Customers can utilize their preferred Lightning or Bitcoin wallet.

A report quoted in accordance with Pick n Pay: “The transaction is as easy and secure as swiping a debit or credit card. Customers scan a QR code from the app and accept the rand conversion rate on their smartphone at the time of the transaction”.

Moreover, Pick n Pay also stated that it will impose a minor service fee for payments made in BTC, “costing the consumer on average 70c” of the local currency.

Pick n Pay states, as reported by Reuters: “Increasingly cryptocurrency is being used by those under-served by traditional banking systems, or by those wanting to pay and exchange money in a cheaper and really convenient way. Many companies are responding to this by accepting Bitcoin”.

Meanwhile many crypto asset companies and organizations are showing interest in accepting Bitcoin as in August this year, a football club of UK, Oxford City, allowed fans to use Bitcoins to pay for match tickets, food, and drinks. Another news of its acceptance was personally given by CZ, CEO of Binance, via a tweet about the Bitcoin adoption by Spain’s largest telecom company on September 30.