A new “one-tap” mobile payments app has launched its closed beta allowing users to load up Bitcoin, Ether, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and pay for items at stores like Starbucks and Nordstrom without having to manage cryptographic keys.
Flexa users can take their phones to go shopping in the real world, tapping once for a “flexcode” and swiping at a merchant’s POS terminal to complete the transaction. The app manages the amount and the wallet address, converting the cryptocurrency payment at the market rate.
The goal is to allow Flexa users to spend Litecoin at Nordstrom or Bitcoin at Starbucks or any combination of cryptocurrencies at shops in over 35,000 locations worldwide.
The New York-based company was founded in 2018 by Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore, a former PayPal executive; Trevor Filter, a UX developer for American Express; Tyler Spalding, CTO for Raise; and Zachery Kilgore.
The development team aims to transform payment platforms by eliminating fraud and giving people the freedom to choose their preferred method of payment – without banks and bank cards.
According to their blog, “By making cryptocurrencies spendable in mainstream commerce, our sincere hope is that we can help bring the full promise of blockchain technologies to people all over the world.”
They’re currently accepting testers on a limited basis for their closed beta. You can sign up here.