Exchange startup BitX now lets you purchase airtime with Bitcoin

Bitcoin is slowly catching up with standard currencies, even with its uphill struggle. Bitcoin startup BitX now allows customers to purchase airtime with the digital currency. It’s a small step, but a good one.

Using their BitX platform — which already allows users to transfer Bitcoin to one another — the company has added an airtime purchasing option. South African customers can choose from local players MTN, Cell C, Vodacom, Virgin Mobile, and Telkom, and send the amount to any cellphone number.

According to BitX product advisor Simon Dingle, the decision had to do with user needs:

We’re proud to provide mobile data packages as part of this announcement, however, as many services only sell airtime, but we know that our users spend more time using the internet on their smart devices than anything else.

According to BitX, this new extension will be available on the Android and iOS app platforms in the coming weeks. It’s currently available through its website.

Ventureburn asked Dingle what other services the company is looking to offer, but he didn’t elaborate. He simply replied: “Watch this space.”

Along with the application updates, BitX is planning on expanding its services to other countries but can’t provide more details than that at the moment.

It’s an exciting time for Bitcoin and the startups helping shape its future. There are more and more startups adopting it, along with the launch of BitHub in Cape Town, South Africa which is looking for developers.

Dingle is also positive about the cryptocurrency, saying that it not only allows for finances to be used in profound ways, but has endless possibilities beyond that.