Dive Brief:
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Bitcoin payment processing service BitPay is offering retailers no charge on basic payment services.
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The offer includes unlimited access to BitPay plugins, API, or apps and email support. BitPay will charge for business and other premium-level services.
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Meanwhile, bitcoin supporters are asking the state of New York to give them more time to get up to speed on proposed new state regulations of bitcoin.
Dive Insight:
No-charge to merchants sounds like a sweet deal in an era when retailers are struggling with credit card fees. The deal could help nudge bitcoin further along into the mainstream, though it’s hard to know how much of an impact it will have, considering that bitcoin is already much cheaper for retailers to process than credit cards. The fate of the currency is more likely in the hands of regulators and speculators at the moment.