This article is from www.blocknews.com.br and the original article can be read here in Portuguese
While Uber signals that it may embark on the use of cryptocurrencies in the future, competitor 99, from Chinese Didi Chuxing, expands the possibility of bitcoin transactions through the 99Pay digital wallet. The platform will expand the service offering to all 1,600 cities where 99Pay operates in Brazil.
Since November last year, 99 has already allowed the return of part of the payments (cashback) in bitcoin and the purchase of cryptocurrency through its digital wallet. But, high interest in these negotiations led to the expansion of the service. So, now users will have the possibility to buy and sell Bitcoin directly in the 99 app.
According to a statement from the company, in the first four months of the service there were more than 268 thousand bitcoin transactions, moving almost R$ 50 million. The volume of transactions, combined with the demand for user information, led the platform to expand its service offering.
While 99 evolves to include cryptocurrencies in its business, Uber has not yet taken the first steps. Recently, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi signaled that the company may adopt digital currencies in the future. However, he cited environmental impact and the high cost of transactions as issues of concern. For the CEO of Uber, cryptocurrencies still need to prove “more efficient” before being adopted as a means of payment.
Demystification of cryptocurrencies
For the head of Marketing and Insights at 99Pay, Clarissa Brasil, the demystification of the use of digital currencies is behind the expansion of the service to users. “We want to expand access to people who are starting to think about investing, but who are not clear on how this type of financial asset works and often think that it is a business exclusive to large investors. 99Pay is a robust wallet and we felt that we could use our great penetration to break down barriers and offer simple and intuitive mechanisms for buying and selling Bitcoins,” she says.
Transactions with bitcoin via the 99 app, as well as the individual 99Pay app, can be made from R$10, without charging any fees. According to the company, the 99 app also has a tab in which it will be possible to check the cryptocurrency quote in real time, as well as a price history.
Didi’s Brazilian operation seems to be moving without the restrictions seen in China, a country that has been adopting several measures to limit mining and the use of cryptocurrencies in its territory.