As the world moves towards normalizing cryptocurrency, more and more companies are accepting cryptos as payment. AMC, the movie theater chain, already accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. But now the company is set to start accepting payments in Dogecoin and Shiba Inu coin in the coming weeks. Moviegoers will be able to buy tickets online through BitPay and through the AMC app as soon as April 16.
Crypto as payment is here
Companies allowing customers to purchase goods and services with cryptocurrency is nothing new at this point. Microsoft and PayPal, which were two of the earliest adopters of cryptocurrency, have accepted Bitcoin as payment since late 2014. The Amazon-owned live-streaming giant, Twitch also accepts bitcoin as payment. Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk announced that Tesla would start accepting Bitcoin as payment in February of 2021 as well. Though, three months later Musks doubled back on the promise, citing environmental concerns. However, he said that Tesla will probably accept the cryptocurrency as payment again once it becomes more eco-friendly.
Bitcoin as payment is common, Dogecoin and Shiba are on their way, too
Tesla actually already accepts Dogecoin as a payment method. Just not for their vehicles. Musk took to Twitter in January to announce that Tesla merchandise would be purchasable with Doge. Musk famously backed the “Dogecoin to the moon” movement in 2021. He even went so far as to launch the Doge-1 satellite into orbit. The mission was fully funded with the canine cryptocurrency. Other companies like Gamestop (while they’re still around), Ulta Beauty, and Newegg also let customers pay with Dogecoin and Shiba Inu.
Dogecoin, which started as a joke in the early 2010s in response to Bitcoin’s rise to popularity, took off in 2021. Now, it seems like the crypto has garnered legitimacy amongst big businesses. Shiba Inu, while at a slightly lower market cap, has become more widely accepted as well. All thanks to a Twitter hashtag that took a joke to the moon.
