Adyen, the global payments technology company, announced that it has enabled bitcoin payments for Jagex, the UK-based developer behind the highly popular MMORPG RuneScape. Jagex is the first merchant to accept bitcoin payments through Adyen’s platform. Adyen has integrated with BitPay, the world’s leading bitcoin payment processor, to enable customers to accept bitcoin payments.
Jagex has consistently provided cutting edge payment options for gamers, being an early adopter of the now common free-to-play gaming model. By offering bitcoin as a payment method, Jagex is giving its customers greater freedom to pay with the methods they prefer. Furthermore, by accepting bitcoin – a digital payment method ideally suited for gaming and digital goods – Jagex is reinforcing its position as a gaming technology leader among its tech-savvy users.
Commenting on the roll out of bitcoin as a payment option, David Parrott, Payment Services Director at Jagex, said, “An advantage of bitcoin is that it is still new and shiny enough to generate interest in the payment experience simply through the fact that it exists. There are people with investment in the system looking for new and cool places to spend their cash. As a business that operates on a freemium model – where the payment process needs to be compelling enough to convert cost free customers into paying ones – not having a barrier to entry for bitcoin users makes sense.”
The announcement follows increasing investment in the startup ecosystem that supports bitcoin throughout 2014, and adoption by a growing number of leading global brands, including Microsoft, Newegg, Virgin Galactic, and Takeaway.com.
“Interest in bitcoin continues to grow among merchants. And as a business focused on merchant needs, we are excited to give merchants the ability to securely accept bitcoin payments, alongside over 250 payment methods and 187 transaction currencies that we currently offer,” said Roelant Prins, Chief Commercial Officer, Adyen.
“Merchants choosing Adyen and BitPay will receive all the advantages of working with a stable, scalable payments platform, where bitcoin is seamlessly integrated into the Adyen payments flow, reporting, and settlement,” said Tony Gallippi, BitPay’s Co-founder and Executive Chairman. “Adyen is a great company and a strong partner to help expand bitcoin adoption worldwide.”
