Mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies has just received a boost in these turbulent times. USDC stablecoin issuer, Circle just added support for Apple Pay to allow crypto companies to accept the payment method.
While the iPhone maker doesn’t directly support crypto payments, USDC users have the option to make in-app purchases via credit or debit card through Apple Pay.
Apple Pay allows users to store their credit card information on their iPhone devices, rather than store the actual card numbers on the device or on Apple servers, and then pay through contactless terminals in stores or purchase items through apps.
“This can be especially powerful for crypto-native businesses as it can help them forge stronger connections with customers who want to pay in more traditional ways and even allow them to buy crypto with Apple Pay on their preferred exchange. Apple Pay and Circle’s Payments solution even enables crypto-native businesses to accept payments from customers who don’t use crypto at all,” the company said.
Circle also touted the integration as a way to help NFT marketplaces, crypto gaming, crypto exchanges, crypto wallets, and cross-border payment providers grow their business by making checkout easy with Apple Pay and USDC. Traditional businesses can also take advantage of this new functionality to move more retail payments to digital currencies and experience the benefits of USDC settlement, it added.
As a result of the new feature, users can make payments through Apple’s Safari browser or in apps with iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and other supported devices. With the new Apple Pay feature, they no longer have to create an account or fill out long forms. But it should be noted that to use the new payment option, the customer must have a Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card assigned to Apple Pay.
Circle has expanded the reach of its offerings, which are primarily focused on retail and investment, to attract B2B partnerships. The Boston-based company announced earlier this month that it plans to roll out its euro-pegged stablecoin on the Solana (SOL) network in the first half of 2023.
The move to expand Euro Coin’s native support and access to new permissionless cross-chain infrastructure marks Circle’s first in a series of commitments to integrate with other blockchains, including Ethererum and Avalanche.
Before the collapse, Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto exchange, FTX, was supposed to be the first platform to support deposits, withdrawals, and trading of Solana-based euro coins at launch.