MEDIA RELEASE
June 3, 2016
Bitcoin on sale at 1200 newsagencies in
Australian first with launch of Bitcoin.com.au
Bitcoin will be sold over the counter for cash in a game-changing Australian
first with today’s launch of Bitcoin.com.au.
Bitcoin.com.au will sell the digital currency across a selected retail network of
1200 newsagencies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and all
major regional areas.
Anyone can purchase Bitcoin, with a minimum transaction of $50, where a
4% fee will apply.
The General Manager of bitcoin.com.au, Rupert Hackett, said:
"We see this as a major development towards new user adoption and
legitimacy towards the Bitcoin ecosystem. By lowering the barrier to entry
and creating a tangible, physical experience, new users can now safely buy
Bitcoin on their way home from work.”
Bitcoin.com.au is launching its retail network play into newsagencies in
partnership with fintech solutions business blueshyft, a Sydney-based startup backed by magazine publishing icon Matt Handbury.
blueshyft, since launching last year, has rolled out over-the-counter
newsagent transaction and fullfilment solutions for global courier business
TNT and online wagering company Ladbrokes, creating new revenues for
newsagents as well as a cash transaction facility with convenient locations for
customers to engage with digital and online businesses.
“We've built a software platform which is installed in 1200 newsagencies that
effectively transforms individual agents into a unified network of digital
convenience stores,” said blueshyft CEO Kain Warwick.
“blueshyft is a Retail Network as a Service, which means we can offer a
physical footprint to digital businesses, these businesses can then extend
their services into convenient physical locations. It also allows them to tap
into the massive cash economy.”
Bitcoin.com.au is operated by Global Internet Ventures, a company backed by
serial entrepreneur and technology pioneer Domenic Carosa, an early
investor in the Australian Bitcoin and Blockchain space. Global Internet
Ventures has been in operation for 24 months running the exchange
buyabitcoin.com.au.
Hackett, who has completed the world's first masters in Digital Currencies,
said he expected the education of Bitcoin to a wider public would be helped
by consumer ability to buy a small amount conveniently on their way home
from work.
“From a marketing point of view Bitcoin often miss-understood. In reality,
this is a new technology with huge potential being recognized seriously by
major financial agents. We have to be proactive about developing the right
environment for this emerging technology. Bitcoin and other blockchain
projects will create huge value propositions for consumers in the future. They
have the potential to disrupt many industries and Australia should capitalize
on this opportunity” Hackett said.
Bitcoin is the most successful (largest and most secure) blockchain system to
date, with around $1 - $2.5 billion (AUD) transferred globally using the
Bitcoin network every 24 hours. The system has never suffered a loss of data.
“There is no doubt that Bitcoin is poised for huge growth and the underlying
Technology (Blockchain) is being taken very seriously by Big
banks/accounting firms, every single major bank in the western world is
investing in this underlying technology” Hackett said.
Global Investment Ventures/Bitcoin.com.au are members of the ADCCA
(Australian Digital Currency Commerce Association) and are proactively
working with AML/KYC companies to create solutions to foster a legitimate
environment for this technology in Australia.
-endsFor more inquiries please contact:
Rupert Hackett, General Manager Bitcoin.com.au :0413 566 216
or
Kieran Warwick, Sales/Marketing Director, blueshyft: 0402 462 711