Bitcoin has just arrived at Apple Pay — here's how to use it

Bitcoin has just arrived at Apple Pay — here's how to use it

If you're an Apple Pay user looking to cash in your bitcoins or other cryptocurrencies after the recent surge, BitPay has made it easier.

The company, which claims to be the world's largest cryptocurrency payment service provider, just announced that you can now add its PrePaid Mastercard to your Apple Wallet for easy use in stores and online through Apple Pay. [The card's integration with the new Apple Pay allows customers to instantly convert cryptocurrency into dollars; users of the latest version of the BitPay app (12.1.0) should be able to add the card to Apple Wallet soon.

BitPay is not the only currency supported by Bitcoin; Ether, Bitcoin Cash, USD Coin, Gemini Dollar, Paxos Standard, and Binance USD can be cashed in with Apple Pay.

Even if you're not in Apple's ecosystem, you're not forgotten. The company has plans to add BitPay cards to both Google Pay and Samsung Pay by the end of next month. [Thousands of customers of the BitPay Wallet app use BitPay cards. Adding Apple Pay, and soon Google and Samsung Pay, "will make it easier and more convenient to use your BitPay card in more places for everything from everyday purchases to luxury purchases.

Bitcoin's rise to an all-time high of over $48,000 yesterday is certainly attractive to those with plenty of cryptocurrency in their wallets, although many investors will try to hold onto their funds to see how far they can go.

And while the idea of being able to pay for everyday items using cryptocurrency is appealing, it is not as simple as using US dollars, even with the added convenience of Apple Pay. The dollar is not as volatile as bitcoin, and timing is everything. The value of cashing out can change dramatically in a matter of minutes, which could be the difference between paying a higher price or getting the goods for nothing.

Still, it's even better news for cryptocurrencies, which are enjoying renewed interest thanks to Tesla's massive investment and CEO Elon Musk's Dogecoin buzz. Amazon is recruiting people to launch a digital currency project.

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