Cex.io, AstroPay to offer bitcoin in seven Latin American countries

Cex.io, which describes itself as a ´cryptocurrency´ exchange trusted by 450,000 users, and Astropay, a provider of prepaid cards for online use with an expanding presence in emerging markets, have teamed up to provide bitcoin in seven countries in Latin America, Cex.io officials said on Monday.

¨Through our cooperation with AstroPay, we brought bitcoin closer to people from Latin America not only developing our business but also contributing to the bitcoin community growth,” Helga Danova, communication officer at Cex.io Bitcoin exchange, said in an emailed statement to Latin Business Daily on Monday.

“Our decision to choose AstroPay as a partner is based on a thorough research of the Latam region and multiple requests from Cex.io users,” said Jeffrey Smith, the company´s chief information officer, according to information in the company´s blog with a Monday publication date.

“Literally, our users will be able to buy bitcoin for cash in their local currency. And that is incredible,” Smith added.
The Latin American countries where this will be possible are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico and Uruguay, according to the information provided by Smith.

Those Latin American users who complete identity verification requirements according to Cex.io policies will be able to use AstroPay payment solutions, he added.

Cex.io was established in 2013 and its goal is to make bitcoin technology, which enables users to utilize it in a manner similar to cash for transactions on the Internet, available to anyone, according to the company.

AstroPay offers the AstroPay card, which the company promotes as a safer way to make online payments because websites are not able to get any financial or personal information.

¨The company has successfully become the leading cross-border payment provider to online merchants initially in Latin America and more recently in other emerging markets,” according to information provided by AstroPay on its website.

Besides the seven Latin American countries, AstroPay has existing operations in the UK, the Isle of Man, China and Turkey, and is ¨rapidly expanding¨ its coverage across other emerging markets, the company adds on its website.

¨AstroPay enables international ecommerce websites to accept local payments in local currency in the Latin American region, without the need to set up companies or bank accounts in each country,” the company’s website said.

According to Internet World Stats, nearly 11 percent of the world´s Internet users are in Latin America.