Exotic ways to purchase cryptocurrency in different countries
Cryptocurrency can be purchased not only through exchanges, exchange points, crypto ATMs, or OTC desks. These can be quite exotic places that evoke no associations with the world of digital assets.
In our previous article about crypto ATMs, we promised to discuss unusual methods or sale outlets to purchase crypto. So, as promised, here is the information.
Bitcoinbon – buy Bitcoin at a gas station or a tobacco shop
Since the beginning of February 2015, the Austrian broker Coinfinity has launched a new Bitcoinbon project to make Bitcoin more accessible to all Austrians. The service of purchasing a Bitcoin voucher with cash or a bank card has been introduced in the networks of British Petroleum filling stations, OMV, and others, including tobacco kiosks Tabak Trafik (a total of more than 4,000 outlets across the country).
A Bitcoin purchase offer on the Bitcoinbon website
Vouchers are available in denominations of 50, 100, 150, and 250 EUR and come with a numerical code that must be entered on the website to credit BTC to a pre-created wallet. To purchase a voucher for a bigger amount, you will need to pass the verification procedure through the YOTI app. BTC will be credited to the wallet within one hour of activating the voucher.
Tabak Trafik sale outlet for Bitcoin vouchers
Cigarettes, lottery tickets, and… crypto
Tabac, a network of 24,000 French tobacco shops that sells lottery tickets, cigarettes, and mobile phone recharges, also offers to buy Bitcoins with cash or bank cards. They partnered up with the local fintech company Keplerk to introduce this service.
Keplerk upgraded the network's cash register system to bring such a service to market. Since 2019, anyone who sees an ad with a Bitcoin logo can buy a voucher from the Tabac network, which can then be used to credit Bitcoins to an account via an electronic wallet from Keplerk.
Tabac store check-out
Tobacco shop owners are the best channel as they are trusted by customers and they are used to sell vouchers such as credit for mobile phones,Adil Zakhar, Keplerk’s director for strategy and development, said.
UK and Australia Post
Australians can buy bitcoin at a network of national post offices across the country since June 2020, thanks to a partnership between Australia Post and the Bitcoin.com.au cryptocurrency exchange. Australian residents can now purchase cryptocurrency at 3,500 national post offices, just like a newspaper, magazine, or postage stamp.
Holger Arians, CEO of a crypto exchange, believes that this format makes purchasing cryptocurrencies extremely convenient and effortless for people:
For many people, paying for Bitcoin at an Australia Post office feels safer than transferring funds online — particularly for first-time buyers. We’re proud of this partnership and would like to thank Australia Post for their continued openness to new technologies.
The UK Post Office strives to keep up with colleagues from Australia. As a result of a collaboration with the German cryptocurrency exchange Swarm Markets, the UK Post Office has made it possible to purchase crypto assets since 2021. Using the Post Office EasyID mobile app to log in, users can purchase cryptocurrencies through the Swarm mobile app. Swarm enables users to buy a voucher in just a few clicks, which they can then exchange for a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or any other coin from nearly 30 crypto assets.
Swarm Markets thinks that such a collaboration will make it simpler for people to learn about cryptocurrencies and make their first purchase enjoyable. “By making it easy and safe to buy real Bitcoin and Ethereum, more people now have the option to get started in crypto,” said Philipp Pieper, Co-Founder of Swarm Markets.
