Privacy-focused cryptocurrency Dash has signed a partnership with Spanish startup Bitnovo to bring the cryptocurrency to 10,000 retailers throughout Spain. The partnership will allow consumers to buy Dash in stores through coupons and in selected Carrefour and Media Markt outlets through the purchase of gift cards.
“During the past months we were thinking which cryptocurrencies would suit to become available at Bitnovo and after some thoughts we decided that Dash should be the first in joining us,” Bitnovo wrote in a blog post. “Dash is really fast and it has instant send which provides 10 confirmations under 1 minute. Dash also has low fees which actually allow to be used as digital cash.”
Users can already convert Dash into euros and vice versa on Bitnovo.com, which supports payment via debit and credit card, as well as via bank transfer. Bitnovo said it will be launching a Dash ATM soon.
Dash is the second cryptocurrency to hit the Bitnovo platform which before then had been supporting Bitcoin solely.
“This exciting partnership not only showcases our eagerness to bring Dash to consumers throughout Spain, but our pledge to eliminate the barriers to entering the crypto community,” said Fernando Gutierrez, Head of Legal at Dash. “Bitnovo have very impressive, immediate plans to expand throughout Europe, and we plan to follow them throughout their ambitious journey.”
Bitnovo is a Spanish cryptocurrency startup that has been offering exchange and payment services since 2015. The company operates an online platform and a network of ATMs for the purchase and sale of cryptocurrencies.
Partnerships signed with Europe’s largest consumer electronics retailer Media Markt and multinational retailer Carrefour have enabled Bitnovo to bring cryptocurrencies to brick-and-mortar stores around the world. Today, the company claims to have a presence in over 130 countries, allowing users to buy and sell cryptocurrency using vouchers, gift cards, prepaid cards, and more.
For the year ahead, Bitnovo said it plans to expand to other European markets including Italy, Portugal and the UK with an aim to make cryptocurrencies more accessible to the mainstream audience.
“Partnering with Dash brings us one step closer to bringing cryptocurrencies to the masses, and having such a reputable name behind our brand further adds to our promise to push boundaries and drive the crypto-community forward,” said Luis Vaello, COO of Bitnovo. “At Bitnovo we strongly believe in the power of innovation and the possibilities new technologies have to transform the world we live in.”
Dash is currently the 11th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization at US$9.7 billion. Like most cryptocurrencies, Dash had an astronomical year 2017, rising over 10,000%. The cryptocurrency is now trading at US$1,250.
Dash is known for enabling secure, fast and cheap payments, but also for being one of the major self-funded, self-governed organizations in the cryptocurrency industry.
Dash is set to unveil the much-anticipated Dash Evolution later this year, a new platform that promises to make Dash transactions more consumer- and merchant-friendly.