The San Francisco-based crypto exchange Kraken is giving a $150,000 grant to an open-source Bitcoin payments processor.
The recipient, BTCPay, is a free platform created and maintained by its contributors. It allows users to host their own decentralized, censorship-resistant servers and make peer-to-peer transactions on the Bitcoin network. The platform also offers business-friendly features like QuickBooks integration and support for the Lightning Network.
In addition to supporting BTCPay through the grant, Kraken says it will allow users to pay for its cryptocurrency trading terminal, Cryptowatch, through BTCPay.
In a statement, Kraken strategist Pierre Rochard says,
“Thanks to BTCPay, businesses have total freedom to conveniently access a secure digital cash system called Bitcoin. Accepting Bitcoin as payment may be a key feature of your product, your payment system of last resort, or just one of many checkout options.”
The $150,000 grant is the largest BTCPay has received to date. The funds will be used to provide solutions to small businesses, such as offering more integrations and helping users set up secure wallets. This partnership has been a long time coming, according to BTCPay.
“Since the launch of the BTCPay Server Foundation, we’ve been receiving constant ‘WEN KRAKEN’ messages via DM’s and in our community chat. The passion that people put into the communities of both Kraken and ours to make this happen, is truly incredible.”
