Bitcoin is now over 10 years old, but it’s only been a household name for a little over two years. In late 2017 the cryptocurrency surged in value, attracting millions of people from around the world to invest.
Wild speculation about the price of the token was coupled with discussions on the possibilities of cryptocurrencies and how they’d revolutionise the way we earn and spend money.
While the price increases turned out to be a bubble, peaking in mid-December and dropping by 50% by February 2018, Bitcoin has slowly been adopted by more and more retailers who have begun accepting it as a payment method. Today, Bitcoin is accepted in more places than ever before, here are some of them.
Coffee Shops
Being able to pay for your morning coffee with your Bitcoin is the dream for many as it symbolises how everyday activities are being affected by the technology. For several years, some small independent coffee shops, particularly those run by cryptocurrency enthusiasts, have been accepting Bitcoin.
As of March 2020, some Starbucks customers have been able to use “Bakkt Cash” which allows payments to be made in Bitcoin. In 2019, quietly began accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through a system called Flexa, although no official announcements were made.
Online Casinos
Online casinos help to bring all of the most popular games found in cities like Las Vegas and Macau to players who can’t or don’t want to travel to a physical casino. Since their birth in 1995, online casinos have become a multi-billion dollar industry, with more than €20 billion spent each year in Europe alone.
Most brands have stayed away from cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, opting to stick to fiat currencies. However, there are some sites that let users play online casino games with Bitcoin and other tokens.
Microsoft Store
Although the American computer giant won’t yet allow you to buy an Xbox or Surface tablet from them with Bitcoin, it does accept the digital currency to be spent on virtual goods in the Microsoft Store.
This means you can spend your Bitcoin on downloadable games, music, movies and apps to use on your PC, console or Windows Phone (if you still have one).
The company did temporarily stop accepting cryptocurrencies during the last few months of 2017, citing volatility for the reason. However, this cessation was short-lived, and the company began accepting them again in early 2018.
Travel Companies
For several years, Expedia accepted Bitcoin as a payment method for flights and hotels but it quietly ended its support in 2019. Thankfully, there are plenty of other companies who are happy to take their customers.
It’s currently possible to pay for flights using Bitcoin with airBaltic, Cheapair, aBitSky and Travala. Many use third-party services to convert the payment to fiat currency first, but the customer still gets to spend their Bitcoin.
For those wanting to explore space and the resources to pay for it, Virgin Galactic will also accept Bitcoin for a seat on its rockets. It was actually one of the earliest adopters of the cryptocurrency, announcing they were accepting it in 2013.
