PayPal to Allow Customers to Hold Bitcoin w3h4s More Cryptocurrencies in Online Wallet

PayPal holders in the US will be able to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies in their wallets over the coming weeks. 1a3u42

By Reuters | Updated: 22 October 2020 10:34 IST

PayPal to Allow Customers to Hold Bitcoin, More Cryptocurrencies in Online Wallet

PayPal hopes the service will prepare its network for new digital currencies central banks may develop 15x4r

Highlights

PayPal has 346 million active s around the world
PayPal hopes the service will encourage global use of virtual coins
Bitcoin hit its highest since July 2019 on the news

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PayPal said on Wednesday it will allow customers to hold Bitcoin and other virtual coins in its online wallet and shop using cryptocurrencies at the 26 million merchants on its network.

The new service makes cryptocurrencies, which could help Bitcoin and rival cryptocurrencies gain wider adoption as viable payment methods.

The San Jose, California-based company hopes the service will encourage global use of virtual coins and prepare its network for new digital currencies that central banks and companies may develop, President and Chief Executive Dan Schulman said in an interview.

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"We are working with central banks and thinking of all forms of digital currencies and how PayPal can play a role," he said.

US holders will be able to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies in their PayPal wallets over the coming weeks, the company said. PayPal plans to expand the service to its peer-to-peer payment app Venmo and some other countries in the first half of 2021.

The ability to make payments with cryptocurrencies will be available from early next year, the company said.

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Other mainstream fintech companies, such as mobile payments provider Square and stock trading app firm Robinhood Markets, allow s to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, but PayPal's launch is noteworthy given its size.

The company has 346 million active s around the world and processed $222 billion (roughly Rs.16,36,195 crores) in payments in the second quarter.

PayPal's shares were up 4 percent at 1418 GMT, set for their best day in a month.

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Bitcoin hit its highest since July 2019 on the news. It was last up 4.8 percent at $12,494 (roughly Rs. 9,20,800), taking gains for the original and biggest cryptocurrency above 75 percent for the year. Cryptocurrency market players said the size of PayPal meant the move would be a plus for Bitcoin prices. "The price impact will be positive overall," Joseph Edwards of Enigma Securities, a cryptocurrency brokerage in London, said. "There's no comparison with regards to the potential exposure between the upside of PayPal offering this, and the upside of any similar previous offering."

Volatility 3z6p4

Bitcoin and other virtual coins have struggled to become established as widely used forms of payment despite being around for more than a decade. Cryptocurrencies' volatility is attractive for speculators, but poses risks for merchants and shoppers. Transactions are also slower and more costly than other mainstream payment systems.

PayPal believes its new system will address these issues as payments will be settled using traditional currencies, such as the US dollar. This means PayPal will be managing the risk of price fluctuations and merchants will receive payments in virtual coins.

"We are going about it in a fundamentally different way to make sure we provide the maximum amount of safety to our merchants," Schulman said.

PayPal's service comes as some central banks have announced plans to develop digital versions of their currencies, following a regulatory pushback.

PayPal was among the founding of this project but dropped out after a few months.

PayPal has secured the first conditional cryptocurrency licence from the New York State Department of Financial Services. The company will initially allow purchases of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies called Litecoin, it said.

PayPal is teaming up with cryptocurrency firm Paxos Trust Company to offer the service.

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