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Bitrefill integrates USDC support via the Solana blockchain

source-logo  en.cryptonomist.ch 29 October 2024 14:47, UTC

Bitrefill, società leader del mondo crypto e-commerce, ha appena annunciato l’integrazione della stablecoin USDC sul network Solana.

By doing so, the platform expands its offering of supported tokens, providing more freedom of choice to the end customer.

This move by Bitrefill comes just a few days after the presentation of its own crypto debit card.

Summary

Bitrefill adds stablecoins: support for USDC on Solana network

Bitrefill, the crypto e-commerce giant, has just revealed in a press conference that it has added support for USDC on Solana.

Thanks to this new feature, the users of the platform will be able to spend Circle’s stablecoin to purchase gift cards, e-SIMs, and non-rechargeable cards.

At the moment the service is available only with the coins BTC, ETH, USDT, DOGE, and LTC, but soon the integration with the Solana blockchain will be added.

This detail will unlock greater scalability in transactions with any of the 7,000 brands supported by Bitrefill.

Furthermore, the presence of USDC in this context ensures that customers can enjoy a purchasing experience detached from the volatility of cryptocurrency prices.

In fact, when purchasing on large traditional e-commerce platforms, for example on Amazon, there are no currency exchanges to consider or goods that change value quickly.

For Bitrefill the goal of this new implementation is precisely to bring the theme of “spending in crypto” closer to the traditional world.

Not to be underestimated is how the frenzy that Solana is experiencing during this period could bring a flow of new users to the platform.

Regarding the news, Sergej Kotliar, CEO of Bitrefill, commented, emphasizing how the use of USDC has been a payment method strongly desired by the community:

“This has been the most requested payment method by our users and is already present in our launch phase, we have seen the sales data position itself at the center of the group of our products supported payment methods”.

Bitrefill announces crypto card: speed and cost-effectiveness of transactions with Solana and USDC

Very curious to note how the integration of USDC on Solana for Bitrefill comes only a few days after the company announced another big news.

Monday, October 21, the trader indeed presented to their audience the imminent launch of their crypto credit card.

Thanks to this new tool, users will be able to go beyond the gift card and freely spend the tokens supported by the company through the international circuit VISA.

It is estimated that in total about 130 million merchants located in 175 different countries will accept the new Bitrefill card.

Attention, however, because not everyone will be able to request it, but only citizens residing in selected countries of the European Union, among which fortunately Italy is also included.

We find support for Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and others.

For the complete list, you can refer to what is stated in the following tweet by Bitrefill.

There are no non-EU countries, highlighting the strength of the company in the Continent.

You asked, and we listened.

The physical Bitrefill card is almost here, and we’ve gone BIG, literally! 💳⬆️

Get ready for the grand reveal.

Stay tuned for more 👀👇 pic.twitter.com/FmqhWGL6EX

— Bitrefill (@bitrefill) October 21, 2024

Once the Bitrefill card is released, users will be able to spend USDC via the Solana network for purchases in crypto.

This will allow them to leverage a stable value currency as a means of exchange and an efficient and economical network for the settlement of transactions.

At the moment, the supply of USDC on Solana is 2.6 billion tokens: it is possible that a part of these will be used for purchases on e-commerce.

Gift Card and vouchers to tackle the problem of high taxation in Italy

Although the news of the introduction of the crypto card for Bitrefill and the integration of USDC on Solana may attract a lot of users, there are some considerations to be made.

In Italy, following the presentation of the new 2025 budget law, the taxation on capital gains in crypto-assets will increase from 26 to 42%.

This might discourage the Italian clientele from using the Bitrefill card as it would in fact result in taxable transactions according to the regulations.

For this reason, it is even more difficult to think that USDC will be used, which has recently been elected as the “MiCa compliant” stablecoin.

It is more likely that Bitrefill will continue to be used in Italy through the various gift cards, e-SIM and gift vouchers that can be purchased directly in crypto.

In this way, even though the sale of goods or services also results in a realization (and in fact taxable), it still appears to be confined within the bull and bear crypto world.

By spending BTC or other tokens, purchased without KYC, one can protect themselves from the risk of the tax authorities checking how much was spent with our debit card.

By purchasing gift cards, fuel vouchers, and Amazon vouchers on Bitrefill, you can reduce your potential capital gain by using the money for daily activities.

Obviously, with this article, there is no intention to encourage tax evasion but only to highlight a phenomenon that could gain traction, given the current situation.

We remind you, in fact, that severe penalties are provided for offenders, with fines up to 5 million euros.

en.cryptonomist.ch