Walmart partnered with a cryptocurrency exchange and payment agency called CoinMe that specializes in Bitcoin ATMs.
Walmart Inc, the world’s largest retailer, announced on Thursday, October 21, that customers at some of its U.S. stores will be able to buy Bitcoin using ATMs installed by Coinstar.
Walmart said that it has begun a pilot program where customers can purchase Bitcoin as Coinstar kiosks in some of its U.S. stores.
Molly Blakeman, Walmart communications director, talked about the development and said that:
“Coinstar, in partnership with Coinme, has launched a pilot that enables its clients to make use of cash to buy bitcoin. There are 200 Coinstar kiosks located inside Walmart shops across the USA which might be part of this pilot.”
Mr. Blakeman mentioned that the pilot test by Coinstar began earlier this month, and the pilot program contains 200 kiosks in Walmart shops.
This system is part of a broader initiative by Coinstar, which has partnered with a cryptocurrency exchange and payment agency called CoinMe that specializes in Bitcoin ATMs, to permit clients to buy Bitcoin at some of its kiosks.
The Walmart spokesperson said that there are 200 Coinstar kiosks located inside Walmart stores across the U.S. that will permit customers to buy Bitcoin.
Coinstar, which is best known for its machines that permit clients to exchange physical coins for cash, plans to provide Bitcoin at more than 8,000 kiosks worldwide.
Walmart Increasing Its Virtual Payment Options
Walmart is testing the pilot service program weeks after the firm became subject to a cryptocurrency hoax in September when a fake press release was published, claiming that Litecoin (LTC) could be accepted as payment at Walmart stores. The phony news despatched the values of the little-known crypto token surging.
Although the announcement was false, Walmart is examining the future of cryptocurrency in its enterprise operations.
As reported by Cmnnews in August, Walmart advertised to hire cryptocurrency consultants to assist the agency develop “the digital currency strategy and product roadmap” whereas identifying “crypto-related funding and partnerships,” a time when an rising variety of Fortune 500 companies heat up to digital currencies.
Source: Blockchain News
