Mastercard in cooperation with Bakkt will launch a loyalty program in cryptocurrencies – Bits Media

Banks and companies, working through the Mastercard system, will be able to accrue to clients bonuses in cryptocurrencies. Service launched in partnership with Bakkt platform, which will become the custodian.

How
CNBC reports, thousands of banks and millions of merchants, using the payment system Mastercard, скоро смогут интегрировать криптовалюты в свои продукты и услуги. This includes Bitcoin wallets, credit and debit cards with the possibility of accruals in digital assets, as well as loyalty programs. To achieve this, Mastercard has entered into a partnership with the Bakkt platform, принадлежащей компании Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). Платформа будет оказывать услуги по хранению цифровых активов клиентов платежной сети.

Генеральный директор Bakkt Гэвин Майкл (Gavin Michael) explained, что при желании продавцы, restaurants, airlines or hotels can award customers bitcoins instead of traditional points. Valid points can be converted into cryptocurrency at rates, established by participating companies, which will open up new opportunities for people to earn income.

Mastercard partners with more 20 000 financial institutions around the world, и сейчас в использовании находятся около 2.8 млрд карт Mastercard. Поддержка криптовалют этим платежным гигантом ускорит повсеместное внедрение криптовалют и сделает их частью повседневной жизни людей, who will be able to earn cryptocurrencies and make payments with them. Michael added, that the Mastercard and Bakkt partnership will lower the barrier to entry into the cryptocurrency space. This is an easy way to get started with crypto assets, because people don't have to invest cash in them - they just need to exchange loyalty points for cryptocurrencies. Executive Vice President of Digital Development at Mastercard Sherry Haymond (Sherri Haymond) also commented on the cooperation:

“We want, so that all our partners, be it banks, fintech companies or merchants, легко использовали криптовалюты. Благодаря интеграции с платформой Baktt, их клиенты смогут покупать, sell and store cryptocurrencies. Банки будут удерживать клиентов на своих платформах, а не наблюдать, how they transfer dollars to cryptocurrency exchanges", - Haymond said.

A few months ago, MasterCard simplified the procedure for converting crypto assets into traditional currencies and expanded the program for servicing cryptocurrency cards. Besides, в сентябре MasterСard начал сотрудничать с сервисом Lulu, использующим решение RippleNet, для ускоренного проведения международных платежей.