Recently, a major development was announced in Bloomberg. Wal-Mart, the country’s largest retail operator is partnering with coin-cash machine company Coinstar, and crypto-cash exchange Coinme to install 200 Bitcoin ATM’s across the country.
The 200 Bitcoin ATM’s are part of a pilot program that will bring broader launch of 8,000 machines to the U.S. get ready, Bitcoin is coming to a Wal-Mart near you. There are over 25,000 Bitcoin ATM’s at smoke shops, grocery stores, gas stations and vape shops throughout the country.
To use Bitcoin ATM’s customers simply insert a banknote, receive a password, type it in and place their phone that scans their wallet address and transfer cryptocurrencies directly into their mobile wallet. Now, it should be stated that Coinstar already has upgraded some of their machines to purchase crypto. However, it appears the machines Wal-Mart is getting will be dedicated crypto ATM’s.
This pilot move by Wal-Mart is just another step in the mass adoption of Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Litecoin and Dogecoin. If this pilot program is successful, and Wal-Mart rolls out the launch of 8,000 Bitcoin ATM’s throughout the country, it is a sign that the biggest big box retailers have capitulated and see real value in the blockchain and cryptocurrency.
I wonder will El Paso or Las Cruces get one of the 200 machines in the pilot program? Things that make you go Hmmm …
Author: Majeed A. Kariem, CBP
C4-Certified Bitcoin Professional | President, Blockchain Merchants Assoc.
[email protected]
***
For more info on the Blockchain Merchants, click here; for previous columns, click here.
***
The El Paso Herald-Post welcomes guest columns, open letters, letters to the Editor and analysis pieces for publication, to submit a piece or for questions regarding guidelines, please email us at [email protected]
