Cryptocurrency has been around since 2008 and is becoming more and more mainstream as each year passes. From its humble beginnings on an obscure internet forum, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are being increasingly used by people around the world and here in the UK. While it is not officially classified as legal tender, there are many people who believe that it should be or at least will be in the very near future. Some businesses are getting ahead of the trend and are allowing their customers to use cryptocurrency to pay for their goods and services already – you could even buy a house with bitcoin if the seller accepted it! If you’d like to start using cryptocurrency in your day-to-day life, here are some of the things you can pay for using bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Apple/Microsoft Products
Both the tech giants have taken this big step into the 21st century and both now allow their customers to pay for their products with Bitcoin. You can buy a MacBook and other Apple products through the dedicated Apple BTC store, and by doing so you can save up to 30% compared to buying it with a more conventional method like a credit or debit card. While you can’t buy physical Microsoft products with Bitcoin, they’ve accepted cryptocurrencies in their Microsoft Store since 2019. You can use it to buy a range of products from books to movies to apps.
Online Stores
More and more online stores are making the transition into cryptocurrency by adding it as a payment option on their site, even if they aren’t accepting it in their retail stores. The best example of this is Lush which started accepting Bitcoin payments on its online store in 2017 but has yet to implement it in its high street shops. Other online retailers such as the Shopify marketplace fully support Bitcoin payment and allow any merchant to seamlessly accept bitcoin payments. Other online-only stores such as Etsy don’t accept Bitcoin directly on their site, but independent sellers can choose to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies if they wish. There is even a way to pay for things on Amazon by using Bitcoin. While it doesn’t accept it directly on the site either, you can purchase their online vouchers with Bitrefill, allowing you to indirectly make your purchase with cryptocurrency.
Major Retailers
While some people think that it’s only small, independent businesses that accept Bitcoin, there are major retailers that are starting to accept the currency. The most notable example is the multi-national supermarket chain Whole Foods, which started accepting Bitcoin in its shops back in May 2019. This is one of the first examples of a major brand name adopting the cryptocurrency and is a great sign for its investors. Other brand names are starting to follow the trend, such as when Phillip Plein became the first fashion brand to accept cryptocurrency. As more of these major brands start to accept crypto and see its usage, it won’t be long until others follow suit.
Gaming
Video gaming and online gambling are two of the major players in the cryptocurrency market with both industries benefitting from its digital payment capabilities. One of the great things about cryptocurrency is its potential for anonymity, which is great for people who may not want their banking information in the hands of online casinos. Saying that, online casinos are safer than ever and whether you’re in the UK, New Zealand, or South Africa, there are plenty of reputable online casinos to choose from. The best online casinos will give generous welcome offers to their new players as well as a range of fun and exciting games like roulette and online slots. With so many to choose from, it can be hard to find the site with the best bonuses, so reading casino bonus review sites will give you the lowdown on what the best bonuses are for you. If you’re looking to have some fun with your cryptocurrency, the gaming industry has you covered.
Despite it being over a decade old, we’re still in the early stages of cryptocurrency adoption. There are plenty of businesses and industries that have seen its potential, but there are even more that have yet to do so. As the early adopters show the world the benefits of cryptocurrency, it won’t be long until you can spend your cryptocurrency anywhere.
