LETTER: Pick n Pay blazes trail for bitcoin in SA

The DA in the Western Cape welcomes Pick n Pay’s announcement earlier in the week that it will accept payment with bitcoin using the Lightning Network. This is a major win for financial inclusion as we increasingly transition into a cashless society.

After piloting the payment method in the canteen at its head office in 2017, a recent five-month trial was established at 10 stores in the Western Cape and thereafter extended to a further 29 stores. Pick n Pay is now expanding the initiative to all of its stores. In doing so it means customers will be able to use any Bitcoin Lightning-enabled app to make payments within 30 seconds.

As chairperson of the Western Cape standing committee on finance, economic opportunities & tourism, I recently had the opportunity to try the payment method myself, using the Satoshi e-wallet, in JCC Camp, Mossel Bay, when visiting E-Kasi Bitcoin’s operations.

I further want to commend E-Kasi Bitcoin for the role it has played in assisting Pick n Pay with testing this important project. This is a major development for the tech industry in our country and proves that our province is pioneering in this regard.

We look forward to the future private sector-led Web3 developments.

Cayla Murray, MPP
DA Western Cape finance, economic opportunities & tourism spokesperson

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