Dell Opens Up Bitcoin Shopping In The UK

Computer giant Dell will now accept payments through its UK online store via Bitcoin.

The company is teaming up with payment processor Coinbase to bring the technology to the UK and Canada following a successful launch in the US last summer, which saw one transaction of more than $50,000 worth of the cryptocurrency.

The news makes Dell the largest retailer in the UK to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment, and the company has also released a special video guide for curious consumers.

Expansion

Shoppers looking to spend their cryptocurrency can simply add items to your cart and choose Bitcoin as the payment method.

“Through the expansion of Bitcoin we’re enabling new levels of convenience for our customers, making it easier for them to do business with Dell,” said Paul J. Walsh, CIO, Dell.

“We’re hearing from our customers around the world that they want the option to use Bitcoin when buying Dell products, so we are excited to deliver Bitcoin as a payment method on Dell.com to our customers in Canada and the UK.”

Founded in June 2012, Coinbase is an international digital wallet that allows consumers and businesses to securely buy, use, and accept Bitcoin currency.

“We’re really pleased to partner with Dell once again, this time bringing its customers in the UK and Canada the option to pay with Bitcoin,” said Fred Ehrsam, co-founder at Coinbase.

“Dell saw that many of its customers wanted to pay with the currency and responded by quickly working with us to give them that option. It is now the largest merchant to accept Bitcoin internationally, paving the way for retailers around the world to follow suit.

“It’s another big step towards expanding Bitcoin acceptance worldwide and something we’re excited to be a part of.”

The use of digital wallets is increasing in the UK as more and more consumers look for easier ways to pay.

Research by payments specialists Skrill found that 54 percent of UK consumers said they often or always used digital wallets such as PayPal, Google Wallet, or Square, to shop and pay for goods online.

Unsurprisingly, younger shoppers were at the forefront of the technology, with more than one in ten 18-24 year olds (14 percent) now using digital wallets for every purchase they make online.

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