It’s nearly time for the World Cup 2018, held in Russia between June 14th June and July 15th. Football is the most popular sport on the planet, and the World Cup is the top international sporting event on the calendar.
It makes sense that vendors would start to accept Bitcoin payments during the run-up, to tap into a massive market of eager fans.
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that has been making waves the last few years with its astronomical fluctuations in value. Underlying the coin is a technology called the blockchain, designed to make transactions safe and transparent as well as holding the potential for a whole different kind of economy. Behind all the hype, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are being spent and used right now. A Turkish football player was even bought using Bitcoin! How can you use Bitcoin during the World Cup 2018?
Betting on Games
Cryptocurrency and betting go hand in hand, with companies operating in the gaming sphere already accepting crypto payments. CoinPoker allows you to use an Ethereum token called CHPs to play poker online for crypto while well-established sports betting sites like Bodog let you use Bitcoin to bet on football.
Whether you are staying at home watching the World Cup 2018, heading to the pub with mates or even flying to Russia, you can use your cryptocurrencies to bet on the games online. But be sure to use a legitimate site.
Paying for World Cup Tickets
Not satisfied with watching the game from home? Maybe it’s time to think about getting a hold of tickets for the World Cup before it’s too late. Brazil is one of the favorites to win this year, but Germany is also in with a decent spot. As such, any game should have an explosive atmosphere, so check out the fixtures to see what’s available.
Official FIFA tickets can be purchased using Visa (one of the sponsors for the World Cup), other payment cards or a bank transfer. You can’t use Bitcoin to pay for World Cup tickets directly. What you can do is use one of several companies who is offering credit cards, which accept Bitcoin.
Wirex has released a Visa debit card, soon to be available in Europe, which allows you to have balances in multiple currencies. You can have accounts in GBP and USD as well as in BTC (Bitcoin). Rivals ePayments has a Mastercard that you can load up with Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and Ethereum. These cards can be used to buy your tickets! Presto!
Flights and Accommodations
Once you have your tickets, you can even pay for your flights to Russia using Bitcoin. Sites like CheapAir accept cryptocurrency payments, and the company has a great search option for finding the cheapest possible flights going. International travel agent Destina can hook you up with flights to any of the Russian cities where matches will be held and take payment in Bitcoin.
Once there, several hotel chains now take payment in cryptocurrency. Hotel apartment chain Marin operates mostly in Western Russia accepts payments in Bitcoin for their services as does the hotel chain Kaliningrad.
While You are There
The cryptocurrency economy is still young, with more businesses accepting Bitcoin payments as the days go on. A popular chain of Russian bars called Killfish allows you to pay using Bitcoin, so head to the nearest one whenever you need a drink before or after a match.
You may find other businesses that accept payments as you travel around Russia, but if not, there is a cryptocurrency exchange in operation right now in central Moscow, which buys and sells crypto for cash. You can trade in your Bitcoin for Russian rubles there!
Whether you can make it to Russia, there’s always ways that you can use your Bitcoin to enhance your experience of the event. Enjoy the World Cup 2018! Let’s see who the winner will be.
