During the past week, Dash, a digital currency for payments and e-commerce, announced an integration with CoinCards.ca, Germany-based SugarTrends, Spain-based Bit2Me and a new DIP. Canadian-based Coincards.ca, one of the few retail gift card companies specializing in cryptocurrency as a form of payment, company allows customers to purchase gift cards for hundreds of brands and retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Netflix, AirCanada and [Canada’s beloved) Tom Horton’s using Dash as well as Bitcoin, Litecoin and Dogecoin, while also featuring Shapeshift integration to allow for payment with other coins. As an example, the going Dash rate for a $500CA Air Canada gift card is 2.13847200 DASH.
To help neophytes navigate their crypto purchases more easily, Coincards notes the “Bitcoin Services It Loves” here, accepting Crypto Asylum, Bylls and Cinfest payment sites as well as recommending Samourai Wallet and GreenAddress Wallets and where to buy crypto: QuadrigaCX, MyBTC.ca and NDAX10.
“We know that first approaching cryptocurrency can be a little daunting to people so CoinCards.ca is providing full 24/7 online support. Our team is comprised of full-time crypto specialists with a background in e-commerce that can assist in walking customers through the process of buying a gift card with Dash,” shared Coincards CEO and Founder of Stuff Technologies Inc. Mike Olthoff.
The site also specifies where to learn more about crypto.
“This is another key step for Dash in our goal of achieving wider adoption, we’re making cryptocurrency both accessible and usable for individuals across the globe,” explained Dash Core Group Global Head of Business Development Bradley Zastrow. “Now, Dash users in Canada can easily buy gift cards at more than 300 major retailers with their Dash, which we hope will encourage others to explore the potential benefits of using cryptocurrency as an alternative method of payment.”
When asked why Coincards added Dash to its accepted payments, Olthoff explained,
“We have always been impressed by the Dash community and their drive to make mass crypto adoption a reality. Once our payment processor offered support for Digital Cash, it was an easy decision for us to add Dash to our direct payment methods on Coincards.ca. We are excited for what this new addition holds for both Coincards.ca and the Dash family.”
Zastrow also tweeted about new partnerships with Kripto Mobile, bitrefill and Uphold Inc:
Excited for our new partnership with @KriptoMobile @bitrefill @UpholdInc Extremely proud of my team who were instrumental in pulling this off @Burrabroad @ernestocontrer @ledniknoj and the amazing @Dashpay community on the ground in VZN @dashcaracas @dashhelpme #cryptocurrency pic.twitter.com/9Ldsya1vRW
— BradleyZastrow (@ZastrowBradley) August 28, 2018
Crowdfund Insider has reached out to Dash for more details on these deals and will post comments as soon as received.
In other news, Dash released a new DIP: DIP-5 Blockchain Users, and explained its use of blockchain on its blog. Dash explained that the platform is adding users to the blockchain to find a solution to an existing issue common to many cryptocurrencies and to enhance additional features on the Dash network. The result will ultimately be simplified payment interactions by utilizing blockchain for address exchange and DAP-related data for its payment processes (registration, security, credits, linking, payment).
“While the implementation of blockchain users is already happening, it’s important to note that newly introduced DIPs are subject to change,” blogged Dash’s phez. “Changes can occur for a variety of reasons including updated research and community input. Also, as an Evolution platform feature, blockchain users will not show up prior to the initial Evolution release.”
The number of businesses now accepting Dash globally has reportedly exceeded 2,000 businesses. Of these, 914 are located in Venezuela; Dash revealed that it is more widely utilized for commerce, both online and in person, throughout Venezuela than every other cryptocurrency combined.