Bitcoin remains the most widely used cryptocurrency, so for many online vendors it’s a good alternative to the U.S. dollar. Microsoft, CheapAir and other big retail names have already jumped on the Bitcoin bandwagon, with many more to follow. To be fair, most Bitcoin-accepting vendors don’t accept Bitcoin directly. They work through commissioned intermediaries, such as Paymium and Coinbase, to immediately convert Bitcoin receipts to fiat currency (usually U.S. dollars). They’re not in the business of holding Bitcoin long-term, and most appear to be leery of Bitcoin’s historical volatility . Still, they recognize that growing numbers of consumers see Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as viable alternatives to fiat currency, and they’re willing to pay intermediary commissions to accommodate them. With that in mind, here’s a look at our top 10 vendors, based on size, user-friendliness, and lowest cost (if any) to the customer, who accept Bitcoin payments. 1. Microsoft When Microsoft announced that it would start accepting Bitcoin, the currency’s proponents rejoiced. Here was one of the world’s biggest tech companies – one of its biggest companies, period – embracing the future of digital commerce. Aside from a brief scare in early 2016, when Microsoft erroneously announced that it would no longer accept Bitcoin and was later forced to apologize (per TechCrunch ), it has been smooth sailing ever since. You can add Bitcoin directly to your Microsoft Online account. From there, you’re permitted to purchase pretty much any digital products and content offered by Microsoft, including Windows apps and games, Xbox games and music, and Windows Phone products. Microsoft doesn’t yet allow Bitcoin for in-person or physical product purchases (such as new hardware and hard copies of Microsoft software), though that may change in the future. 2. Dell Former (and maybe current) arch rivals Dell and Microsoft don’t […]
