Welcome to the latest issue of Cryptie. We’ve seen a lot of activity across the cryptocurrency world as the community settles into post-halving normalcy. This issue includes the latest updates from the cryptocurrency industry, new merchants, giveaways, and the latest updates from BitPay.
Let’s take a look at this month’s highlights.
On this issue:
Bitpay in the news
Check out the latest news from BitPay this month.
industry news
Read news from across the blockchain industry:
- Wisconsin’s state pension fund has made a significant investment in Bitcoin, highlighting the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies by public institutions. WPR
- The value of Bitcoin surged to $70,206, reflecting renewed interest and optimistic sentiment in the cryptocurrency market. Reuters
- As total supply approaches its maximum limit, the race to find rare Bitcoins is intensifying, creating a sense of urgency and excitement among miners. mad
- Former President Trump’s campaign has increasingly relied on cryptocurrency donations, raising questions about regulatory oversight. AP News
- Congressional Democrats are pushing for stricter cryptocurrency regulation to curb risks and strengthen consumer protections. Politico
- The House of Representatives has passed a new bill to regulate the cryptocurrency market, signaling a significant shift in legislative priorities. yahoo finance
- Cryptocurrencies, including Ether, are seeing increasing investor optimism, especially with the emergence of the new Ether ETF. Reuters
- Ethereum price rose above $3,100 after an unexpected regulatory victory, boosting confidence among investors. Cointelegraph
- Botanix Labs has raised $85 million from Polychain Capital and others to develop Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions, indicating strong investment interest in Bitcoin scaling. CoinDesk
- Ethereum transaction fees have hit an all-time low as the layer 2 network absorbs more activity, increasing network efficiency and reducing costs. CryptoSlate
Father’s Day Giveaway: Enter to win a $250 cryptocurrency gift card.
To celebrate Father’s Day, we’re giving away a $250 e-gift card to 10 lucky winners!
Whether you’re a sports fan, outdoor enthusiast, or fashion-forward dad, we’ve got perfect gift options for you from top retailers like Buffalo Wild Wings, Columbia, and Bass Pro Shops Act fast! This event ends on 6/16.
This sweepstakes is open in the United States only. Don’t forget to complete all tasks to unlock bonus items.
→ Participate in the gift card prize draw event
Major Cryptocurrency Gift Cards for Graduates
Celebrate your graduates with the best gift options tailored to their interests with our curated selection of cryptocurrency-backed gift cards.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Graduates are encouraged to shop at Saks Fifth Avenue. Our high-quality fashion and accessories will help you start a new chapter in your style.
game stop
Reward gamers with GameStop gift cards so they can enjoy their favorite video games, consoles, and accessories.
american eagle
Help graduates refresh their wardrobes with an American Eagle gift card that provides trendy and comfortable clothing options for their next adventure.
→ Explore gift cards
Seller Spotlight: right side of dot
Want to secure the most valuable domain names and Web3 digital assets? RightOfTheDot, a leader in premium online property auctions, is hosting an exclusive auction featuring over 500 top-level domain names, including Actors.com, Dog.com, Fish.com, Saints.com, and more.
RightOfTheDot is pleased to announce that we are accepting cryptocurrency payments for this auction. You can now bid and purchase premium domains using your favorite cryptocurrency.
Auction Details:
- Pre-bid: Start now: bid.ROTD.com
- Live Auction: Starting at 3:00 PM CT on June 6, 2024
- location: NamesCon Global’s signature event at the Omni Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas.
- Participation: Find us online at Bid.ROTD.com or in person at our event. NamesCon registration is required to participate in person. www.namescon.com
In addition to classic Web2 domains, this auction includes a selection of Web3 names, providing a unique opportunity to protect cutting-edge digital assets.
To participate online, sign up at Bid.ROTD.com and start bidding. BitPay allows you to conveniently pay using Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other popular cryptocurrencies. Enhance your digital portfolio with industry-leading domain names.
Don’t miss the opportunity to protect your valuable online assets while taking advantage of the benefits of cryptocurrency trading.
→ Visit the auction page
dDownload the 2024 BitPay Spending Report
Did you know that cryptocurrency payments increased by 20% in the first quarter of 2024? BitPay’s latest spending report shows how payments have evolved by industry, coin, chain, region, and other interesting spending trends.
→ Download 2024 BiPay Spending Report 100% free!
Product Focus: Pay your bills with no fees
Leave traditional bill payments in the past. Use Bill Pay with no fees from now until June 30th. Pay almost any bill with over 100 cryptocurrencies, including BTC, LTC, ETH, DOGE and hundreds more.
- Credit card
- student loan
- mortgage
- utility
- car payment
→ Download the app or sign up at BitPay.com to get started.
New sellers: MonoVM and 1Gbit
MonoVM
MonoVM, a leading web hosting provider, offers a variety of services including VPS hosting, shared hosting, dedicated servers, and domain registration. Known as a reliable and affordable solution, MonoVM ensures optimal performance in data centers in over 15 countries. MonoVM now accepts cryptocurrency payments through its partnership with BitPay, allowing customers to conveniently pay for services using Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other popular cryptocurrencies.
1 gigabit
As a leading provider of dedicated servers and VPS hosting solutions, 1Gbits offers high-performance servers with robust security features and global coverage. Known for its advanced enterprise-grade hardware and outstanding customer support, 1Gbits ensures optimal website performance and stability. Now, through a partnership with BitPay, 1Gbits accepts cryptocurrency payments, allowing customers to pay for hosting services using Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies.
Questions to ask your payment processor
Don’t risk partnering with the wrong cryptocurrency payment provider. Arm yourself with the right questions to ask when researching potential partners.
Question #04: How many transactions does the company process each year?
Read our overview here or download our expanded questions guide to help you find a trustworthy cryptocurrency partner.
→ Get the e-book
Bitcoin Halving Update: Half life completed
The crypto world has been buzzing for months with the news that the fourth Bitcoin halving is finally approaching on April 19th. This means that the reward paid to Bitcoin miners has decreased from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC per new transaction block. Cryptocurrency enthusiasts are watching to see how this rare and historic event will impact not only the price of Bitcoin but the entire market. Cryptocurrency-friendly merchants are also watching the halving closely to see how it could impact their businesses.
→ Find out why Bitcoin halvings matter, how they work, and what investors, consumers, and businesses can expect from the most recent halving.
Word of the Month: altcoin
Bitcoin tends to dominate the conversation about cryptocurrencies, which makes sense considering its status as the most popular and valuable cryptocurrency on the market. However, there is a world of opportunity in tokens and coins beyond Bitcoin, collectively known as altcoins. From diversifying your portfolio to discovering new communities, altcoins are one of the go-to assets for every cryptocurrency user.
→ Learn more about the origins of altcoins and how they are used.
ddeveloper news
WooCommerce plugin updates
We’ve released versions 5.4.0 and 5.5.0, adding support for WordPress 6.5.2. Highlights include:
- Supports WordPress versions up to 6.5.2
- Added option to map BitPay paid invoice status.
- Added health checks to WooCommerce.
- Empty the shopping cart after creating an invoice to prevent users from going back to the cart and accidentally creating a second invoice.
- Fix inconsistencies with completion status
- Fixed an issue that resulted in a setup error on fresh installs.
SDK release
We have released a patched version of the SDK that addresses the following issues: satoshisPerByte:
- Java SDK v10.0.2
- Node.js SDK v5.0.2
- PHP SDK v9.0.2
- Python SDK v6.0.2
→ Learn more
Seller’s Call
Check out this month’s seller news.
- Shop APMEX’s popular silver and gold categories, including pop culture collectibles. Shop now!
- OneGold allows you to own vaulted gold, silver and platinum directly at a very low cost. Start your free account today.
- Buy your domain name with Namecheap today!
- Are you ready to accept cryptocurrency in your Shopify business? Get started with the BitPay app today!
- Instantly deploy high-performance cloud servers, cloud GPUs, bare metal, and cloud storage globally with Vultr. New users receive $100 to test the platform.
- Name your business using BrandBucket.
- Shop from US stores and get your products delivered to your home reliably with Qwintry.
Travel with cryptocurrency
BitPay Travel is now open to everyone! In collaboration with Xeni, BitPay Travel will allow cryptocurrency users to pay for flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities with cryptocurrency. Get low prices on all your travel bookings and enjoy the added benefit of paying directly from your cryptocurrency wallet.
→ Start using BitPay Travel
Not a current BitPay merchant?
Contact a BitPay representative today