The U.S. giant is reportedly about to begin accepting digital assets as payments for online shopping – and in the process of launching a native coin.
The Seattle-based technology firm is to begin accepting bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies in exchange for its goods, according to a report from «City A.M.». Amazon plans to go even further and launch a so-called native token, after two years of preparation, according to the online outlet.
Amazon denied the «specific plans» while conceding that it is looking into how its customers pay, according to trade publication «Coindesk». «Notwithstanding our interest in the space, the speculation that has ensued around our specific plans for cryptocurrencies is not true. We remain focused on exploring what this could look like for customers shopping on Amazon.»
Hybrid Scheme?
The report cites both an Amazon job as seeking a candidate who can «leverage domain expertise in blockchain, distributed ledger, central bank digital currencies and cryptocurrency» as well as a person familiar with the company's token plans. The person said the push is backed by founder Jeff Bezos, who ceded the CEO job to long-standing deputy Andy Jassy earlier this month.
After bitcoin, Amazon plans to begin accepting other major cryptocurrencies including ethereum, the person said. The outline of Amazon's own token are sketchy: it appears the company is looking at a hybrid of a loyalty scheme and a payments infrastructure, according to the source.
