Blockchain

Crypto expert Jason Appleton, better known as Crypto Crow in the crypto community, has provided an in-depth analysis of the Cardano (ADA) ecosystem. Based on his analysis, he predicts that the crypto token could hit unprecedented heights as he asserted his bullishness on ADA going into the bull market. 

Cardano Will Rise To $32

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter), Crypto Crow explained in an accompanying video why he believes ADA will rise to $32 in the bull market. According to him, this price level is attainable in the “most prime of conditions by the peak of this bull market cycle.” He also believes that the crypto token could be one of the most valuable altcoins in that period. 

In the video that accompanied his post, Crypto Crow drew out a hypothetical scenario to drive home his point of ADA hitting $32. In his scenario, ADA could hit this price level if Bitcoin were to achieve a $10 trillion market cap, as he projects that this would put ADA’s own at $400 billion. Meanwhile, he believes that ADA’s dominance could rise to as high as 4% in that period. 

For his more conservative prediction, he foresees ADA hitting at least $16 in the next bull cycle. Based on his hypothetical scenario, this would happen if Bitcoin were to hit a market cap of $5 trillion, as this would put ADA’s own market cap at $200 billion. 

The crypto expert also referred to the charts to show why he is so bullish on ADA. He noted that ADA is already performing better based on historical patterns, as he alluded to 2017 in particular. In the relatively short term, Crypto Crow sees ADA hitting $10 by August 2024, as he highlighted the Bitcoin Halving as a major factor in this regard. 

Cardano’s DeFi Landscape Could Be The Trigger

Dan Gambardello, the founder of Crypto Capital Venture, had previously highlighted how Cardano’s growing DeFi landscape important was. He noted that it would be one of the factors that would propel ADA’s price to significant heights in the next bull run. This is a real possibility, as Cardano has seen impressive growth in this regard.

Data from DeFiLlama shows that the Total Value Locked (TVL) on the network has been on a steady rise since the beginning of the year. It recently hit an all-time high (ATH) of $444 million. At the time of writing, the TVL on the network stands at just over $429 million. 

Crypto analyst Psyclops also factored this into mind when he recently suggested that ADA could rise to as high as $10. He highlighted the fact the network undoubtedly has more utility than when the last bull run occurred. One of these use cases, which he alluded to, is the “massive DeFi” that Cardano now has. 

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The announcement from the crypto exchange Coinbase regarding its decision to list the cryptocurrency has sparked a remarkable 98% surge in the price of BONK over the last 24 hours.

This comes on the heels of BONK hitting an all-time high of $0.000029 today, as bullish investors capitalized on strong positive market sentiment and major exchange listings.

BONK Inks Solid Numbers

The Solana-based meme coin has experienced an impressive 750% increase over the last 30 days, marking a significant milestone in its upward trajectory.

 

The recent addition of BONK on Binance has played a significant role in driving up its price as well. Binance intends to include the memecoin as a crypto asset that may be borrowed on its Isolated Margin Program starting December 17.

Also, Coinone, a cryptocurrency exchange based in South Korea, has recently said that it would include BONK on its platform. The BONK/KRW pair will be available for trading, with deposits starting on December 14 at 10:00 a.m. (KST) and spot trading opening on the same day at 5:00 p.m. (KST).

All these listings are proving to be beneficial for the price of the meme coin.

Since its introduction in December 2022, BONK’s price has increased dramatically; it has grown by 7,000% since September 2023, making it the third-largest meme coin behind Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB).

Following its launch, Bonk acquired popularity within the Solana ecosystem by acting as a payment method for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and discovering a variety of applications.

This Meme Coin Is No Joke

Since October, the coin has grown rapidly despite its initial debut as a parody token due to the high level of interest in the Solana ecosystem.

With 61 trillion BONK in circulation, the coin’s market capitalization is currently $931,186 indicating a significant 66.60% price gain over the last seven days.

Given the significant influence of the Solana ecosystem on Bonk’s ascent, this ranks it as the 70th largest cryptocurrency.

In a related news, BONK has shared BONKBot, a new software that makes bitcoin trading easier on popular chat apps like Telegram and social media.

With this move, BONK hopes to improve user participation and accessibility in the cryptocurrency trading community.

Meanwhile, with the predicted bull run in the cryptocurrency market driving growth through 2024, BONK will be able to effectively expand its audience. As the community expands, the price of BONK may eventually hit $0.00095.

On the other hand, there is a significant chance that the BONK meme currency will see a decline during a liquidity crisis or a market-wide selloff. In the event of an extremely fast crash, the bears could retest the $0.000010 mark.

Featured image from Shutterstock

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A crypto analyst who correctly predicted that Bitcoin would hit the heights it is currently enjoying has once again given projections as to Bitcoin’s future trajectory. As part of his predictions, he highlighted the best and worst-case scenarios for the flagship cryptocurrency going forward. 

Bitcoin Could Ride To $60,000

In a live stream on his TechnicalRoundup YouTube channel, crypto analyst DonAlt noted that Bitcoin could rise to the resistance level of $60,000 based on historical patterns. The analyst had highlighted a bullish setup on the quarter timeframe, which had occurred both in 2018 and 2021. He also mentioned that the current quarterly is strikingly similar to those periods. 

The analyst believes that the road to $60,000 would be fuelled by the Spot Bitcoin ETF rumors (as has been the case so far) before an approval possibly comes in January. However, it is not all good news from the $60,000 price level, as DonAlt believes that the approval will be a ‘sell-the-news’ event.

If that were to be the case, he predicts that Bitcoin will drop to $35,000 before it trends upward afterward. He also provided a bearish side to the quarterly timeframe setup as he suggested that this is more likely to happen as it is more “accurate.”  For the bearish setup, he projects a close below the resistance level of $35,000. 

He stated that this would suggest a bearish restest and that investors could expect lower prices as a result of this. 

Why An ETF Approval Will Be A ‘Sell-The-News’ Event

DonAlt further elaborated on his stance of a possible Spot Bitcoin ETF approval in January being a ‘sell-the-news’ event. He explained that the reason for this belief is because Bitcoin has ridden high (up about 3x from the bottom) on the back of these rumors. As such, this would naturally suggest that it is already priced in.

He further noted that he would have had a different opinion if Bitcoin had, for example, traded at around $25,000 and then an approval came. He believes that would have been an easy trade as the flagship cryptocurrency will undoubtedly fly high on the back of such development. 

Renowned Economist Peter Schiff shares similar sentiments as he once noted how Bitcoin has rallied significantly on the back of the ETF rumor. According to him, there will be no more “good news” to spark a Bitcoin rally once the pending Spot Bitcoin ETFs are approved.

However, trading firm QCP Capital recently highlighted what could prevent this from happening. The firm stated that a significant amount of inflows into these ETFs in the first few weeks of trading could prevent the classic sell-the-news event from happening. If these funds see enough liquidity, they project that Bitcoin could hit its all-time high (ATH) of $69,000 instead. 

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After an impressive 300% rally in the past week, Terra Luna Classic (LUNC) is now facing bearish pressure as it slumped nearly 10% this week.

Despite positive internal news for LUNC, the bears still hold the market at a chokehold. According to CoinGlass, a total of $222,000 worth of long positions were wiped out in the past 24 hours despite the open interest remaining positive. 

Terra Luna Classic: Internal Developments Drive Growth

Terra Luna Classic is making some noise online with its community X account being fairly active this month. Enterprise Protocol, a project powered by Terra Luna Classic, recently announced that the protocol can now create cross-chain treasuries on the Juno Network. 

1/10 It’s official: cross-chain treasuries are LIVE on Enterprise DAO!

With the addition of cross-chain treasuries, Enterprise DAO becomes an even more powerful no-code DAO platform. See the announcement for details, or read on https://t.co/12HOpE6RJW

— Enterprise Protocol (@enterprise_dao) November 24, 2023

1/ Big announcement!

Enterprise DAOs can now create cross-chain treasuries on @JunoNetwork

What this means for DAOs and the $JUNO community pic.twitter.com/ig4viyYvcK

— Enterprise Protocol (@enterprise_dao) December 14, 2023

“Enterprise is dedicated to simplifying DAO management. This includes no-code setup, voting & treasury management, and easy distribution of rewards to members. But limiting the fun to one chain would be sad. Which is why Enterprise DAO is expanding cross-chain!” the dev team said in a recent thread. 

2/ Enterprise is dedicated to simplifying DAO management. This includes no-code setup, voting & treasury management, and easy distribution of rewards to members.

But limiting the fun to one chain would be sad

Which is why Enterprise DAO is expanding cross-chain!

— Enterprise Protocol (@enterprise_dao) December 14, 2023

This development would bring more throughput to the network, potentially increasing its exposure to other investors. Even though LUNC enjoys an active community, the market still holds a large sway on the token’s price. As of writing, the market is slowly cooling down after an enormous rally in the past week. 

More Pain To Come At These Levels

LUNC’s current price is standing above $0.00017491. As it currently stands, the token is at a crucial price point as any movement here can make or break future price movements. Investors and traders should exercise caution in the next couple of days as the market slows down and assets return to a more stable price point. 

LUNC’s main problem is its reliance on major market movements to instigate a hike in price. According to Coingecko, both Bitcoin and Ethereum are experiencing major pullbacks in price after a successful rally last week.

Although LUNC is included on the gainers list, investors should not hold this to heart as any pain in the broader market will hurt short to medium-term gains. 

But there is hope on the horizon as the US economy enters a dovish phase with market leaders speculating about rate cuts in 2024. 

“The soft landing that many doubted was possible is becoming more realistic every day,” Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group, said in an interview with Reuters.
“Inflation is no longer the problem it was and we still have a very healthy consumer, judging by today’s retail sales data,” he added. 

Featured image from Shutterstock

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With the token touching $31.35 early on Friday, the injective (INJ) price formed a new all-time high, suggesting that it has recovered all of its losses.

In the cryptocurrency industry, altcoins are gaining traction because most of them have started to rise and are outperforming the leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin.

A couple of the stronger altcoins lately are Avalanche, Bonk, and Solana. INJ, an altcoin that has been making positive noise of late, has attracted a lot of interest as it managed to retain a steady momentum, to the delight of investors.

Injective Surges To All-Time Highs, Marking Impressive Weekly Growth

One of the top AI-based digital currencies in the cryptocurrency market is INJ, since its horizon is accumulating positive sentiments on a global scale.

After breaking over the critical and last region of resistance at $26, its prior ATH, INJ moves into a price discovery mode. As of this writing, the token’s value has increased by over 70% in the weekly timeframe, marking the third day in a row that it has increased.

A blockchain specifically created for financial applications, the Injective protocol stands out in the ever-changing world of cryptocurrencies.

With a focus on finance, Injective seeks to provide cutting-edge services and solutions by utilizing blockchain technology to improve the financial industry in a number of ways.

Developed as a Layer 2 application on top of the Cosmos blockchain, the platform makes use of cross-chain bridges to enable cryptocurrency access from Ethereum and Polkadot.

AI Excitement Propels INJ’s Meteoric Rise

The substantial increases in the price of Injective seem to be attributable to the heightened enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence, especially with the release of ChatGPT-4 and the broader story surrounding AI advancement.

Injective’s value rises in response to the market’s reaction to the rising prominence and potential influence of AI technologies as the tech community is abuzz with excitement about the newest developments in the sector.

The spike is also consistent with recent market statistics that Santiment, a platform that streamlines on-chain monitoring, released. According to the data, the market capitalization of the INJ coin had a significant surge, rising by almost 250% since the middle of October.

The data also shows which three wallets have the highest percentage of INJ accumulations. At $2.18 billion, these stocks make up almost 80% of the entire INJ supply. The aforementioned accumulations contain over two-thirds of all tokens in circulation.

The three biggest INJ wallets have added more over 7 million tokens to their holdings during the last three months, according to Santiment. It is unclear whether INJ price increases are long-term because large pocket investors are probably taking profits.

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Cardano (ADA) is gaining pace above the $0.60 resistance. ADA could rally further if there is a clear move above the $0.685 and $0.700 resistance levels.

ADA price is moving higher above the $0.600 pivot level.
The price is trading above $0.620 and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours).
There is a key bullish trend line forming with support near $0.6020 on the 4-hour chart of the ADA/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
The pair could accelerate higher toward the $0.800 level or even $1.00 in the coming weeks.

Cardano Price Starts Fresh Rally

After forming a base above the $0.500 level, Cardano started a steady increase. There was a break above the $0.550 and $0.600 resistance levels, outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum.

ADA cleared many hurdles and even spiked above $0.680. A new multi-week high was formed near $0.6802 and the price is now consolidating gains. There was a minor decline below the 23.3% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.5220 swing low to the $0.6802 high.

ADA is now trading above $0.500 and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours). There is also a key bullish trend line forming with support near $0.6020 on the 4-hour chart of the ADA/USD pair. The trend line is close to the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.5220 swing low to the $0.6802 high.

Source: ADAUSD on TradingView.com

On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $0.660 zone. The first resistance is near $0.685. The next key resistance might be $0.700. If there is a close above the $0.700 resistance, the price could start a strong rally. In the stated case, the price could rise toward the $0.80 region. Any more gains might call for a move toward $1.00.

Are Dips Limited in ADA?

If Cardano’s price fails to climb above the $0.685 resistance level, it could start a downside correction. Immediate support on the downside is near the $0.6200 level.

The next major support is near the $0.600 level and the trend line. A downside break below the $0.600 level could open the doors for a test of $0.5550. The next major support is near the $0.5220 level.

Technical Indicators

4 hours MACD – The MACD for ADA/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone.

4 hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for ADA/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $0.620, $0.600, and $0.555.

Major Resistance Levels – $0.685, $0.700, and $0.800.

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Ethereum price is consolidating above $2,250. ETH could start a fresh increase if there is a clear move above the $2,320 resistance zone.

Ethereum started a fresh increase above the $2,200 and $2,220 levels.
The price is trading above $2,240 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
There is a key rising channel with support near $2,275 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
The pair could start a steady increase if there is a close above $2,320 and $2,350.

Ethereum Price Eyes More Upsides

Ethereum price started a steady increase above the $2,180 resistance. ETH gained bullish momentum after there was a close above the $2,200 resistance.

The price even spiked above the $2,300 level and settled above the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. A high was formed near $2,332 and the price is consolidating gains. There was a minor bearish wave below the $2,300 level. However, Ethereum is still above $2,240 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.

There is also a key rising channel with support near $2,275 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The channel support and the 100 hourly SMA are close to the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1,980 swing low to the $2,332 high.

Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com

On the upside, the price is facing resistance near the $2,320 level. The next key resistance is near the $2,350 level. The main resistance is still near $2,400. A clear move above the $2,400 zone could send the price toward the $2,500 level. The next resistance sits at $2,520. Any more gains could start a wave toward the $2,580 level.

Fresh Decline in ETH?

If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,320 resistance, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,275 level or the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average and the channel trend line. The next key support is $2,165.

The main support is now near $2,120 or the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1,980 swing low to the $2,332 high. A downside break below $2,120 might start another major decline. In the stated case, Ether could revisit the $2,000 support.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Level – $2,275

Major Resistance Level – $2,320

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Bitcoin price is attempting a fresh increase above the $42,200 level. BTC could surge once it clears the $43,350 resistance zone in the near term.

Bitcoin started a fresh increase above the $42,000 support zone.
The price is trading above $42,200 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
There is a key bullish trend line forming with support near $42,400 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
The pair could continue to move up if there is a clear move above the $43,350 resistance.

Bitcoin Price Aims Higher

Bitcoin price started a decent increase above the $41,500 level. BTC was able to clear the $42,000 resistance zone to enter a positive zone. The bulls were able to push the price above the $43,000 zone.

However, the price seems to be struggling near the $43,350 zone. A high was formed near $43,421 and the price is now consolidating gains. There was a sharp downside correction below the $42,500 level. The price even spiked below the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $40,606 swing low to the $43,421 high.

However, the bulls were active near the $41,500 zone. They protected the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $40,606 swing low to the $43,421 high.

Bitcoin is now trading above $42,200 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Besides, there is a key bullish trend line forming with support near $42,400 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $43,300 level.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com

The first major resistance is forming near $43,350. A close above the $43,350 resistance might start a steady increase. The next key resistance could be near $44,200, above which BTC could rise toward the $45,000 level. A clear move above the $45,000 level could set the pace for a test of $46,500.

Another Drop In BTC?

If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $43,350 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support on the downside is near the $42,400 level and the trend line.

The next major support is near $42,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average, below which the price might test the $41,500 zone. If there is a move below $41,500, there is a risk of more losses. In the stated case, the price could drop toward the $40,600 support in the near term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $42,400, followed by $42,000.

Major Resistance Levels – $43,350, $44,200, and $45,000.

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Thor Hartvigsen, a data-driven decentralized finance (DeFi) researcher, is questioning the appeal of Injective Protocol, a layer-1 platform whose creators say is designed to expressly power finance.

As of December 2023, INJ, the native currency of Injective Protocol, is one of the top-performing coins, surpassing Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

Is Injective Protocol Undervalued Based On On-Chain Metrics?

Taking to X on December 14, Hartvigsen highlighted the platform’s relatively low total value locked (TVL) of $11 million and the limited number of protocols launched on the platform, currently standing at seven.

Based on the researcher’s analysis, the largest dapp on the layer-1, Helix Protocol, a decentralized exchange (DEX), only manages a daily trading volume of about $7.4 million. 

Hartvigsen states this is significantly lower than other perpetual futures protocols, including the Perpetual Protocol. These competitors, the analyst notes, are valued at around $200 and $300 million based on fully diluted valuation (FDV).

So far, looking at data, there are only seven active protocols on Injective, with Helix managing over 60% of the ecosystem’s TVL, reinforcing its dominance.

If on-chain activity and the number of active protocol leads, Hartvigsen wants answers to irrefutably justify Injective Protocol’s $3.2 billion valuation.

The researcher compares Injective with other blockchains, including Ethereum and Solana. These platforms command relatively higher trading volume and on-chain activity. 

To illustrate, Hartvigsen cites DefiLlama data, which shows that Injective’s volume ranges from $5 to $7 million daily from seven dapps.

On the other hand, Solana, a competing layer-1, presently processes between $500 and $700 million. Meanwhile, Injective Protocol cannot match Ethereum, which processes over $1 billion in trading volume.

INJ Up 395%, Will Prices Continue Rising On Investor Optimism?

In response to Hartvigsen’s analysis, yiggit, a user claiming to be a legal counsel, defended Injective Protocol. The user emphasized that TVL, as the researcher cited, cannot be the sole determinant to gauge a project’s potential. 

Related Reading: Bitcoin Deja Vu: Capital Inflows Mirror Pre-2021 Bull Run Momentum

Yiggit added that Injective Protocol’s potential is rooted in the expected number of upcoming apps. Notably, the legal counsel notes that optimism also stems from the Injective Protocol’s origins in Cosmos. In the Cosmos ecosystem, staking tends to catalyze participation as users seek to receive airdrops.

Still, whether or not the researcher’s assessment is valid depends on time. So far, looking at the INJ price action in the daily chart, the coin has been charting higher, registering new all-time highs.

To illustrate, INJ is up 395% from mid-October 2023, rallying as the broader crypto market recovers. At this valuation, CoinMarketCap data shows that the project has a market cap of over $2.7 billion.

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Accepting crypto payments may sound daunting, but with the right tools and knowledge, it’s a game-changer for businesses. This article simplifies the process, from understanding the basics of crypto payments to seamlessly integrating them into your business operations. We’ll explore how to accept crypto payments, the most effective cryptocurrencies for transactions, highlight businesses leading the charge which accept Bitcoins as payments, and unveil the advantages of adopting this futuristic payment method.

Crypto Payments For Businesses Explained

For businesses, adopting crypto payments is not just a nod to modernity; it’s a strategic move towards cost-efficiency and broader market access. One of the most significant advantages of crypto payments is the substantial savings on fees typically imposed by centralized point-of-sale (POS) service providers and credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard.

Cryptocurrencies operate on decentralized networks, which means transactions do not require intermediaries. This absence of middlemen significantly reduces transaction costs, a benefit that can be particularly impactful for businesses with high sales volumes or those dealing with international transactions, where traditional fees can accumulate quickly.

Moreover, crypto payments provide an alternative to the delay often associated with bank processing times. Transactions can be completed at a much faster rate, enhancing the cash flow for businesses. This speed, coupled with the reduced cost, presents a compelling case for businesses to integrate crypto payment options.

Another crucial aspect is the security and fraud prevention inherent in blockchain technology, the foundation of cryptocurrencies. The encrypted and immutable nature of blockchain transactions adds a layer of security that is challenging to achieve with traditional payment methods.

By accepting crypto payments, businesses not only align themselves with a tech-savvy consumer base but also leverage a global payment system devoid of geographical boundaries and currency conversion issues. This global reach can be particularly beneficial for online businesses looking to expand their market.

Providers Of Crypto Payment Systems

Crypto payment gateways are essential for businesses looking to accept cryptocurrency transactions. These platforms provide the necessary infrastructure, such as point-of-sale (POS) systems and shopping cart integrations, for seamless crypto transactions. They also offer additional conveniences like protecting merchants from the volatility inherent in cryptocurrencies and facilitating currency conversions and invoicing​.

Each of these gateways has its unique strengths, catering to different business needs and preferences. Choosing the right provider depends on factors like the range of cryptocurrencies you wish to accept, the ease of integration with your existing systems, the level of exposure to crypto volatility you’re comfortable with, and the specific features you need to streamline your crypto transactions.

Coinbase Commerce

Known for its easy integration with major US cryptocurrency exchanges, Coinbase Commerce offers a flexible solution for businesses. It provides custom checkouts, a connection to the Coinbase crypto exchange, crypto wallets, invoicing, refunding, reporting tools, and an API for developers. Importantly, it offers volatility shielding under its managed plan. Coinbase Commerce supports a range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and others, with a transaction fee of 1%​​.

BitPay

One of the early entrants in the crypto payments sector, BitPay is known for its robust infrastructure and integration capabilities. It provides volatility protection, invoicing, mass payouts, and the option for a prepaid Mastercard. BitPay supports multiple cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. It charges a transaction fee of 1% + $0.25, which may be higher for certain high-risk industries​​.

CoinGate

Particularly suitable for companies outside the US, CoinGate supports an impressive array of over 70 cryptocurrencies. It integrates well with various eCommerce platforms and offers features like crypto conversions, invoicing, and a developer sandbox. CoinGate’s transaction fee is 1%, with additional charges for settlements in fiat currencies like the Euro​​.

NOWPayments

This gateway stands out for its low transaction fees, starting at 0.5%, and supporting a wide range of over 70 cryptocurrencies. NOWPayments is ideal for businesses looking for straightforward solutions without custodial features. It offers services like cryptocurrency conversions, fiat settlement options, invoicing, mass payouts, and POS software. The platform’s pricing model is attractive, although additional costs for services like fiat settlement and volatility shielding can add up​​.

AlfaCoins

AlfaCoins distinguishes itself with flexible payment options and competitive fees. It supports a more limited range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. The transaction fee is slightly lower than its competitors at 0.99%, and it offers unique features like the CoinSplit option, which allows for partial payments in different currencies. AlfaCoins is particularly advantageous for non-profit organizations, offering lower fees for donations and even zero-fee plans​​.

Strike

Strike stands out as a unique player in the realm of crypto payments, primarily leveraging the Bitcoin Lightning Network. The Lightning Network is a layer 2 payment protocol layered on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, designed to facilitate faster and more cost-effective transactions. This is particularly beneficial for handling microtransactions, which are impractical with traditional Bitcoin payments due to higher fees and longer processing times.

Setting Up Crypto Payment Systems

Integrating a crypto payment system into your business involves several key steps to ensure a smooth and secure transaction process. Here’s a guide to getting started:

Choose A Crypto Payment Gateway: Select a provider that aligns with your business needs. Popular options include Coinbase Commerce, BitPay, CoinGate, NOWPayments, AlfaCoins, and Strike via the Bitcoin Lightning Network.
Create A Merchant Account: Once you’ve chosen a provider, you’ll need to create a merchant account on their platform. This typically involves providing business details, setting up security measures, and linking bank accounts for fiat settlements if needed.
Integration With Your Business Platform: Integrate the crypto payment gateway with your existing business infrastructure. This could be through plugins or APIs.
Set Up A Digital Wallet: To receive and store cryptocurrency payments, you’ll need a digital wallet. Some gateways offer their own wallets, while others may require you to set up an external wallet.
Configure Payment Options: Configure your payment gateway settings according to your preferences.
Implement Security Measures: Ensure that robust security measures are in place to protect against fraud and hacking.
Educate Your Team: Educate your staff about how crypto payments work, how to process them, and how to troubleshoot common issues.
Testing: Before going live, thoroughly test the crypto payment system to ensure that it works seamlessly.
Launch And Marketing: Once testing is complete, launch the crypto payment system. Use marketing strategies to inform your customers, highlighting the benefits.

Best Crypto For Payments

Selecting the best cryptocurrency for business transactions is crucial for ensuring efficiency, security, and customer satisfaction. Here are some of the best cryptos for payments:

Bitcoin (BTC): As the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is widely accepted. However, its transaction times and fees can be higher compared to other cryptocurrencies, when not choosing a Lightning Network based solution.
Ethereum (ETH): Known for its flexibility and the support of smart contracts, Ethereum is a popular choice for businesses. It’s particularly suitable for businesses involved in digital services and products. However, fees can be quite high on the base layer as well.
Litecoin (LTC): Often considered as the silver to Bitcoin’s gold, Litecoin offers faster transaction times and lower fees.
Stablecoins (USDT, USDC, DAI): Pegged to stable assets like the US dollar, stablecoins offer the benefits of cryptocurrency without the volatility. This makes them ideal for businesses concerned about the fluctuating value of other cryptocurrencies.
XRP: Known for its low cost and fast transaction times, XRP is becoming a preferred choice for international transactions and businesses with a global customer base.
Dogecoin (DOGE): Initially started as a joke, Dogecoin has gained popularity and is now used by some businesses, especially in the retail and entertainment sectors.

When selecting the best cryptocurrency for payments, consider factors like transaction speed, fees, market acceptance. It’s also important to decide if you want to keep Bitcoin or crypto on your company’s balance sheet. Then, Bitcoin is probably the less riskiest bet as “digital gold.”

Who Accepts Bitcoins As Payment?

Bitcoin’s acceptance as a payment method has seen a significant rise, with a diverse range of companies integrating it into their payment options.

Businesses That Accept Crypto

Below is a list of some notable companies that accept Bitcoin:

Tech Companies

Microsoft: Allows Bitcoin for Microsoft account top-ups.
AT&T: First major U.S. mobile carrier accepting crypto through BitPay.
Namecheap: Bitcoin payment for domain management and registration.
The Internet Archive: Accepts Bitcoin donations.
ExpressVPN: Bitcoin payments accepted via Bitpay.
DishNetwork: Subscription payments with Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.
Grooveshark: Bitcoin payments via Stripe.
SEOclerks.com: Accepts Bitcoin for its SEO-focused job marketplace.
Substack: Pay newsletters in Bitcoin.
WordPress.com: Bitcoin payments through Bitpay.
Tesla: The electric car giant briefly accepted Bitcoin, but still accepts Dogecoin.

Fintech Companies

Paypal: Buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies.
Intuit Quickbooks: Accepts Bitcoin.
Mint.com: Tracks Bitcoin since 2015.
Coinfuel: Gas Gift Cards with Bitcoin.
ForexTime (FXTM): Cryptocurrency trading.
AvaTrade: Cryptocurrency trading options.
FBS: Foreign exchange trading with cryptocurrencies.
eToro: Cryptocurrencies on a traditional trading platform.
Ecommerce Companies
NewEgg: Hardware and electronic gadgets.
Shopify: Thousands of merchants accepting Bitcoin.
eGifter and Gyft: Buy gift cards with Bitcoin.
BitPlaza: Wide range of products.
Etsy: Merchants can accept crypto.
Fancy.com: Global shopping site.

Gaming and Entertainment Companies

Twitch: Streaming platform accepts Bitcoin and Litecoin
BigFishGames.com: Casual games creator.
HumbleBundle: Games, ebooks, software.
Xbox: Subscriptions with Bitcoin.
Zynga: Social gaming platform.
Movietickets.com: Online movie ticketing.
Lionsgate films: Hollywood studio.
AMC Theaters: Movie tickets with Bitcoin.

Food Companies

Subway: Some locations accept Bitcoin.
Burger King: Germany and Venezuela.
KFC: Special Bitcoin bucket deal.
The Pink Cow – Japan: Bitcoin ATM.
Pemburry Tavern: Britain’s first Bitcoin pub.
Old Fitzroy: Sydney pub.
Bitcoin Coffee: Prague cafe.
Dominoes In The Netherlands: Employee payments.
WholeFoods: Via Spedn app.
Coupa Cafe: Silicon Valley early adopter.
JustEat: In some countries via BitPay.

Travel Companies

CheapAir: Flights and hotels.
Travala.com: Hotels, flights, activities.
More Stamps Global: Flights, hotels, travel services.
BTCTrip: Bitcoin-supported flights.
Webjet: Australian online travel agency.
Alternative Airlines: BTC Travel and vacations.
Peach Aviation: Japanese carrier accepting BTC.
Virgin Galactic: Space flight venture.
Expedia: Airline tickets with Bitcoin.

Jewelers And Precious Metal Companies

REEDS Jewelers: Luxury watches and jewelry.
Vaultoro: Precious metals and Bitcoin.
Menlo Park: High-end jewelry.
Luxe Watches: Luxury brand watches.
Saving Pearls: Handmade jewelry shop.
American Bullion: Gold investor company.
SchiffGold: Precious metals.

Other Companies Who Accept Bitcoin As Payment

Wikipedia: Open encyclopedia accepting Bitcoin donations.
SavetheChildren: Nonprofit accepting cryptocurrency.
European School of Management and Technology Berlin: Education institute.
University of Cumbria: UK university.
Juliette Interiors: Luxury UK-based furniture retailer.
Mobler Design: Furniture company.
Red Cross: Nonprofit accepting Bitcoin.
UnitedWay: Community of nonprofits.
BitGive: First Bitcoin nonprofit.
McLaughlin & Stern: Law firm.
Central Texas Gunworks: Firearms dealer.
Inguard: Insurance company.
Managego: Platform for rent payment with Bitcoin.
Dallas Mavericks: Accepts Bitcoin as a payment method for game tickets and merchandise, processed through BitPay.

Bitcoins As Payment: Using The Lightning Network

The Lightning Network represents a significant advancement in the use of Bitcoin as a payment method. It’s a “layer 2” payment protocol layered on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, designed to enable faster and more cost-efficient transactions.

This is particularly beneficial for microtransactions, which can be impractical on the main Bitcoin network due to higher fees and longer processing times. Key features include:

Speed: Transactions are almost instantaneous, drastically reducing waiting times.
Reduced Fees: Much lower than traditional Bitcoin transactions, making it economical for small purchases.
Scalability: Can handle a massive volume of transactions, which the main Bitcoin network might struggle with.
Enhanced User Experience: Provides a smoother and more efficient transaction process, ideal for everyday purchases.
Increased Adoption: Its efficiency makes Bitcoin more practical for mainstream use, encouraging wider adoption.

Businesses using the Lightning Network can offer customers a quick and low-cost way to pay with Bitcoin, making it an attractive option for both small-scale and large transactions. This technology is particularly appealing for online businesses and retailers, where speed and efficiency are crucial.

Advantages Of Crypto Transactions

Crypto transactions, particularly at the point-of-sale (POS), present several advantages over traditional methods like Visa, Mastercard, or other payment service providers. The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies means lower transaction fees, as there are no intermediary institutions such as banks or credit card networks charging for their services. This can result in substantial savings for businesses, especially those with high transaction volumes.

Moreover, crypto transactions often process faster than conventional methods, a significant advantage for both merchants and customers. They enhance security, leveraging blockchain technology’s inherent encryption and immutability, which minimizes fraud risks. Unlike traditional payment methods, cryptocurrencies are not bound by national borders or subject to the same regulatory constraints, offering a more seamless experience for international transactions.

Additionally, accepting cryptocurrencies can enhance a business’s market appeal, especially to tech-savvy customers who prefer using digital currencies. By adopting crypto payments, businesses position themselves as forward-thinking and adaptable to emerging financial technologies.

FAQs On Crypto Payments

How To Accept Bitcoin As Payment?

To accept Bitcoin as payment, businesses need to set up a digital wallet and choose a payment gateway like Coinbase Commerce or BitPay. Integration with existing POS systems or online platforms is typically required, followed by configuring the payment settings to accept Bitcoin.

Who Takes Bitcoin As Payment?

Numerous businesses, including tech companies like Microsoft, retailers like Overstock, and various food outlets and travel companies, accept Bitcoin. The acceptance is growing, encompassing a wide range of industries.

How To Accept Crypto Payments?

Accepting crypto payments involves selecting a crypto payment processor, setting up a cryptocurrency wallet, integrating the payment system into your business infrastructure, and deciding on the cryptocurrencies you wish to accept.

Who Accepts Bitcoins As Payment?

Businesses across different sectors accept Bitcoin. This includes tech companies like Microsoft, AT&T, various eCommerce platforms, and service providers like ExpressVPN.

Who Accepts Bitcoin As Payment?

Numerous renowned companies across various sectors accept Bitcoin as a form of payment. These include major tech companies like Microsoft and AT&T, eCommerce giants like Overstock, and notable travel companies such as Expedia and Virgin Galactic. The list also features entertainment and food service providers like AMC Theaters and Subway.

How To Accept Crypto Payments As A Business?

Businesses can accept crypto payments by choosing a suitable crypto payment gateway, integrating it with their sales system, setting up a crypto wallet, and educating their staff about handling crypto transactions.

What Are The Best Cryptos For Payments?

The best cryptocurrencies for payments include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP and stablecoins like USDT and USDC due to their wide acceptance, relative stability, and lower transaction fees compared to traditional payment methods.

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