The retail chain Grupo Elektra now accepts Bitcoin (BTC) as a payment method. Under the impetus of its founder, Ricardo Salinas Pliego, the Grupo Salinas conglomerate is opening up to digital currencies. To encourage the use of Bitcoin, the company is even offering discounts on purchases paid for in cryptocurrencies.
Grupo Elektra accepts payments in Bitcoin (BTC)
Grupo Elektra, a major Mexican retail and banking company, is now accepting payments in Bitcoin (BTC). An advertisement announcing the news appeared on the chain’s official website a few days ago.
Founded in the 1950s, Grupo Elektra is part of the Grupo Salinas conglomerate, which is owned by Ricardo Salinas Pliego. The billionaire quickly confirmed the news on his Twitter account
Los rumores son ciertos , @ElektraMx es la 1er tienda (de retail) en México que permite comprar con Bitcoin
Siento mucho volver a ganarle a la competencia . https://t.co/1Lm9cbfGeL
– Ricardo Salinas Pliego (@RicardoBSalinas) December 16, 2021
“The rumors are true, Elektra is the 1st (retail) shop in Mexico that allows you to buy with Bitcoin. I’m really sorry to beat the competition again.”
The firm offers financial and retail services in Mexico and several Central and South American countries. Grupo Elektra markets a wide range of products, such as smartphones, household appliances and clothing. The company’s financial division offers consumer credit through the group’s bank, Banco Azteca.
The company is offering a 20% discount on all purchases made with bitcoins rather than dollars in order to encourage the use of the cryptocurrency. The offer is valid from 16 to 31 December 2021 on all products purchased online or in a physical shop. To take advantage of this offer, you must spend a minimum of 5000 Mexican pesos, which is 240 dollars.
To accept Bitcoin as a medium of exchange, Grup Elektra has turned to Bitpay, the US-based payment service provider, the company explains in the terms and conditions of the promotion. The US firm is making its payment infrastructure available to merchants who wish to accept Bitcoin as a means of payment.
Billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego confirms his interest in Bitcoin
Considered the third richest man in Mexico, Ricardo Salinas Pliego has never hidden his interest in the queen of cryptocurrencies. A few months ago, he encouraged investors to follow his example and buy Bitcoin.
“Something I really like about Bitcoin is the ability to finally have a digital currency that can be freely exchanged around the world. Bitcoin has this great advantage that, unlike fiat money, it doesn’t need to be changed from one national currency to another to have value in countries abroad; it is almost universal,” Ricardo Salinas Pliego said in a recent blog post. “
Maximalist businessman even considers fiat currency a gigantic fraud. Ricardo Salinas Pliego has pledged that his bank, Banco Azteca, will soon accept payments in Bitcoin.
NEWS: Mexican retail giant starts accepting Bitcoin
Ricardo Salinas Pliego, the owner of Mexican retail giant Elektra, stated that they will now accept Bitcoin, adding that Elektra is the first retail business in Mexico to accept Bitcoin payments.
– Coinsbit India (@CoinsbitIndia) December 17, 2021
As a reminder, Grupo Elektra is not the only retailer to embrace digital currencies. A few weeks ago, Konzum, Croatia’s largest supermarket chain, began accepting payments in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ether (ETH). Another example is Mercado Libre, Latin America’s largest marketplace, which started accepting Bitcoin for real estate purchases in April. Who’s next?
