Tag: Accept

  • Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages becomes first cruise line to accept Bitcoin payments

    Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages becomes first cruise line to accept Bitcoin payments

    Virgin Voyages becomes first cruise line to accept Bitcoin payments
    • Virgin Voyages becomes the first cruise line to accept Bitcoin for bookings.
    • Passengers can use Bitcoin to book for cruises including the upcoming Virgin Voyages’ Annual Pass.
    • Virgin Voyages targets younger travellers with crypto adoption in a competitive market.

    Virgin Voyages, the innovative cruise line founded by Sir Richard Branson, has announced that it now accepts Bitcoin (BTC) as a payment option for bookings.

    This move makes Virgin Voyages the first cruise line to adopt crypto payments amid a growing trend in the travel and hospitality industries to embrace digital currencies.

    Annual Pass cruise passengers can book using Bitcoin

    According to Virgin Voyages’ announcement, passengers can now use BTC to pay for cruises across its fleet, including its highly anticipated “Annual Pass.” Virgin Voyages’ Annual Pass, which provides a variety of exclusive benefits to frequent travellers, is also the first cruise product to accept cryptocurrency payments.

    This bold step highlights Virgin Voyages’ commitment to appealing to younger, tech-savvy travellers and digital asset enthusiasts, who are increasingly integrating cryptocurrency into their everyday transactions.

    Notably, Virgin Voyages’ decision to accept Bitcoin comes at a time when other sectors of the travel industry are exploring cryptocurrency options.

    Of late, airlines and hotels have started accepting crypto payments to capitalize on the growing interest in digital currencies. Platforms like Travala, a crypto-native travel service, have already partnered with major travel websites like Skyscanner to allow users to book over 2.2 million hotels using cryptocurrency.

    Virgin Voyages’ ambition to become a unique cruise line

    The move is part of a larger strategy by Virgin Voyages to differentiate itself in a competitive industry.

    Founded in 2014 as a joint venture between the Virgin Group and Bain Capital, Virgin Voyages has consistently aimed to offer a modern, youthful alternative to traditional cruising. The company’s fleet, which includes the Scarlet Lady, Resilient Lady, and Valiant Lady, offers itineraries designed for a younger demographic, with shorter Caribbean cruises and exclusive experiences.

    Virgin Voyages’ embrace of cryptocurrency is likely to further set the cruise line apart as it continues to push the envelope in customer service and innovation.

    As digital currencies become more mainstream, Virgin Voyages’ decision to accept Bitcoin may inspire other cruise lines to follow suit in the near future.

    Source link

  • Miami mayor to accept presidential campaign donations in BTC

    Miami mayor to accept presidential campaign donations in BTC

    • Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a Republican, announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election in June.
    • Miami has currently been trending for all the right reasons from Lionel Messi mania to the mayor accepting BTC donations.
    • The mayor has also said that he would ban a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

    Bitcoin-friendly Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has said that he will accept Bitcoin (BTC) donations for his presidential campaign.

    Speaking on a popular media TV outlet, Suarez said:

    “Officially, my campaign is accepting bitcoin,” Suarez explained. “This is a process of developing technologies that will create democratising opportunities for wealth creation and will not be manipulated by a human being’s ulterior motives, political goals, and so on.”

    According to Suarez, supporters can now donate as little as 0.00034BTC, or the equivalent of $1, at his campaign website.

    Suarez’s view on CBDCs

    Suarez, who is known to advocate for Bitcoin, has said that he would ban a central bank digital currency (CBDC).  He said that people do not want the federal government to know where they have their money and how much money they have.

    Suarez launched the MiamiCoin (MIA) in 2021, which he hoped would be used to pay a recurring Bitcoin stimulus (similar to dividends) to Miami citizens.

    The mayor has criticized the current US administration led by Joe Biden. Castigating the government, Suarez said:

    “The biggest mistake that this administration has made is they don’t understand crypto so they have gone to a regulated-by-enforcement mechanism as opposed to set the ground rules. You have to be able to classify certain digital products, you have to be able to have certain guidelines and rules that are clear with respect to the custody of assets.”

    Source link