Grupo Elektra accepts payments in Bitcoin (BTC)
Grupo Elektra, a major Mexican company specializing in retail and banking, now accepts payments in Bitcoin (BTC). An advertising insert announcing the news appeared on the chain’s official website a few days ago.
Founded in the 1950s, Grupo Elektra is part of the conglomerate Grupo Salinas, which is owned by Ricardo Salinas Pliego. The billionaire quickly confirmed the news on his Twitter account:
Los rumores son ciertos ?, @ElektraMx is the 1st (retail) tienda in Mexico ?? que permite comprar con #Bitcoin.
Siento mucho volver a ganarle a la competencia ???. https://t.co/1Lm9cbfGeL
– Ricardo Salinas Pliego (@RicardoBSalinas) December 16, 2021
“Rumors are true Elektra is the 1st (retail) store in Mexico which allows you to buy with #Bitcoin. I’m really sorry to beat the competition again ”.
The firm offers retail and financial services in Mexico and in several Central and South American countries. Grupo Elektra markets a wide range of products, such as smartphones, household appliances or clothing. For its part, the financial division of the company notably offers consumer loans through the group’s bank, Banco Azteca.
The brand offers a reduction of 20% on all purchases made with bitcoins rather than dollars in order to encourage the use of cryptocurrency. This offer is valid from December 16 to 31, 2021 on all products purchased online or in a physical store. To take advantage of it, you have to spend a minimum of 5,000 Mexican pesos, or $ 240.
To accept Bitcoin as a medium of exchange, Grup Elektra turned to Bitpay, the US-based payment service provider, explains the company in the terms of the promotion. The American firm makes its payment infrastructure available to merchants who wish to accept Bitcoin as a means of payment.
? Also read: This New York real estate company will accept Bitcoin (BTC) as a means of payment
Billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego confirms his interest in Bitcoin
Considered as the third richest man in Mexico, Ricardo Salinas Pliego has never hidden his interest in the queen of cryptocurrencies. A few months ago, he encouraged investors to follow his example and buy Bitcoin.
“Something I really love about Bitcoin is the ability to finally have a digital currency that can be freely interchangeable around the world. Bitcoin has this great advantage that, unlike fiat money, it does not need to be changed from one national currency to another to be of value in countries abroad; it is almost universal ”, Ricardo Salinas Pliego said in a recent blog post.
Openly maximalist, the businessman even considers fiat money to be a gigantic fraud. Ricardo Salinas Pliego has pledged that his bank, Banco Azteca, will soon accept Bitcoin payments.
As a reminder, Grupo Elektra is not the only large distribution company to open up to digital currencies. A few weeks ago, Konzum, Croatia’s largest supermarket chain, has started accepting payments in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ether (ETH). Another example is Mercado Libre, the largest marketplace in Latin America, which began accepting Bitcoin for purchases of real estate properties last April. Who’s next ?
? Also discover our guide: How to spend your bitcoins?
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