Richard Branson, chairman and founder of Virgin Group Ltd., recently invested $30 million in BitPay, a software program that processes Bitcoin payments.
“Bitpay has proven itself to process Bitcoin safely and reliably, growing the market and increasing adoption, which continues to build trust, legitimacy and momentum in this exciting currency revolution,” Branson told Business Insider.
Branson has always been a visionary, and he’s not the only one. Many venues and universities accept Bitcoin for payments, and event though the value has fluctuated over the past year, the digital currency appears to be growing in popularity. According to CoinDesk survey, approximately 60,000 businesses now accept Bitcoin, and by the end of 2014, there will be 7.3 million Bitcoin wallets (a service that holds your coins for you).
One of our features in the April/May issue of FM magazine is about Bitcoin and how some organizations, such as the Sacramento Kings, are using it to keep on the cutting edge in their industries.
“In the short time since announcing its Bitcoin program, the Kings organization has been approached by other professional sports teams as well as local businesses that are now interested in accepting the virtual currency…,” Michael Pinchera wrote. “Beyond the value of sales attributable to Bitcoins, the organization is reaping other benefits as a result of its bold move: It’s seen as an industry innovator while simultaneously gaining valuable experience transacting with the future of currency.”
Please read the story, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section about Bitcoin.
(Image: Flickr CC/Antana)
