iGaming Business – Casual games developer Big Fish Games is to join forces with international secure Bitcoin wallet Coinbase to offer online customers a new way of buying games and making in-app purchases using the Bitcoin virtual currency.
The partnership will make Big Fish the first gaming company to use Coinbase’s transaction platform.
All Big Fish online games can now be purchased directly from the company with Bitcoin, while a number of its free-to-play online titles will also accept the virtual currency for in-app purchases.
To use Bitcoin on Big Fish, players can purchase a Coinbase wallet or any other Bitcoin wallet solution.
Coinbase said that its instant exchange feature will ensure that players have no exchange rate risk, with Big Fish immediately settling transactions in US dollars.
“Being able to offer Bitcoin payments to our consumers through Coinbase is just one more way Big Fish is meeting demand and setting the pace for the mainstream consumer and for the mainstream industry,” Big Fish’s founder and chief executive officer, Paul Thelen, said.
“This is not a test, this payment method will be available worldwide for all of Big Fish PC and Mac games in the Big Fish app store.
Fred Ehrsam, co-founder of Coinbase, added: “Our partnership with Big Fish is our first with a game company merchant, and not only signifies the growing adoption of Bitcoin across major industries, but also the future of small purchases on the internet.
“Base fees on credit cards can take 15% or more of small purchases on the internet. Big Fish not only wanted to have an alternative and less costly form of payment, but also wanted to stay ahead of the curve by offering its customers options on how to pay for their entertainment.”
