Online gaming marketplace G2A will be accepting Bitcoin Payments thanks to a partnership with BitPay.
Hong Kong-based G2A is one of the largest online marketplaces bringing game developers, buyers and sellers together. According to a press release, it has facilitated an average of 700,000 transactions per month in 2015.
It has also reportedly invested €20 million in research and development over the past two years, and €6 million in e-sports sponsorship.
2015 has seen a noticeable slowdown in the number of high-profile companies announcing plans to accept bitcoin for payment. The notion of bitcoin for use as an everyday currency has not caught on as many had hoped. BitPay, a household name for helping merchants accept bitcoin, has shifted its business strategy and reduced its workforce.
The partnership is the second major partnership announced by BitPay since these changes. Last week, it partnered with Ingenico to make bitcoin payments possible for merchants using the latter's point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
Online gaming is a fitting candidate for bitcoin payments, which can be made instantly and globally, and are usually confirmed within minutes. Marcel Roelants, General Manager BitPay EMEA, commented, "By their nature, digital goods like games, are borderless. Using bitcoin as a global payment method will complement the online experience."
