French crypto startup Keplerk will be re-launching its service to accept Bitcoin payments in over 5,200 tobacco shops in the country.
The French startup had suspended this crypto service less than two months after its launch back in January, but this time it promises that the service will be bigger and more effective. Keplerk says the re-launched service will enable customers to buy Bitcoin from tobacconists in coupons of 50, 100, or 250 Euros, according to France’s top news channel BFM TV.
According to the French news report, the Keplerk service will be facilitated by the company’s partner Bimedia, which will be providing payment terminals and enabling payments in all 5,200 locations. Keplerk’s initial launch back in January involved just six tobacco shops, while other publications reported that there were as many as 24 shops participating in the Keplerk payment program. Back in January Keplerk co-founder Adil Zakhar stated that the firm was planning to expand the project to 6,500 tobacco shops by February despite reports that France’s central bank did not endorse the initiative.
In stark contrast to reports of French authority resistance of that crypto initiative at the time, current reports have it that cryptos are becoming a hit in France. France is seeing growing crypto adoption with large French retailers accepting BTC payments. Popular crypto publication Cointelegraph reported that over 25,000 points-of-sale of 30 French retailers which include sportswear giant Decathlon and cosmetics store Sephora will start accepting BTC payments by early 2020.
French authorities are showing signs of being pro crypto. French Economy minister Bruno Le Maire said that French authorities had no plans to tax crypto to crypto trades but will rather consider taxation when crypto is sold for fiat money. This good will though is not being extended to proposed Facebook digital token, Libra. The French government is among those who are most strongly opposed to the Facebook project.
