Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are becoming far easier to use in the many industries involved in major sports events — from hospitality to gambling, and this trend is showing on this year’s soccer World Cup in Russia, CoinTelegraph reports.
In the four years since the last World Cup, cryptocurrencies have grown immensely. The proliferation of the industry came to a head last year, as Bitcoin, Ethereum and a number of altcoins reached all-time highs.
Russia is expecting more than 570,000 international visitors over the duration of the competition — with the influx of foreign tourists also expected to provide a boost to the country’s economy. Traveling tourists provide a need for adequate accommodation and foreign exchange facilities, and this is where cryptocurrencies have come to the forefront at the World Cup.
In the build-up to the tournament, Kaliningrad hotel chain Apartments Malina announced that customers would be able to book and pay for accommodation using Bitcoin. Killfish, a chain of bars in Russia, has been accepting Bitcoin for booze since 2013 and has added an extensive promotional program that promises great discounts for the World Cup.
Getting to Russia in the first place was also possible with cryptocurrencies. Cheapair has been accepting Bitcoin as a payment method since 2013, and with flights to Russia available through the airline, people could have easily made their way to the country using the cryptocurrency.
Travel agency Destinia also accepts Bitcoin as a payment method for its clients, and football fans using the service provider to get to Russia had another avenue to spend their BTC to enjoy the tournament.
The 2018 World Cup currently underway in Russia is held in 11 cities and 12 stadiums hosting 64 matches during the month-long spectacle.
