365Crypto
Crypto Goes Mainstream in South Africa
Buying groceries or coffee with Bitcoin is no longer a dream in South Africa. Thanks to a new partnership between Scan to Pay and MoneyBadger, locals can now spend Bitcoin, stablecoins, and other crypto at over 650,000 stores nationwide.
How It Works
Customers simply scan a QR code at checkout using crypto from exchanges like Binance, Luno, VALR, or Blink. Payments are handled through the MoneyBadger platform, and merchants receive the money directly in South African rand — no conversion hassle for users.
From Saving to Spending
Theo Koma, product owner at Scan to Pay, said the feature brings real-world use to crypto. “By removing the conversion step, we’re letting people use their crypto directly,” he explained. Shops don’t need extra tools or updates — everything works within the existing Scan to Pay network.
The Shift in South African Crypto Culture
MoneyBadger CEO Carel van Wyk noted that South Africans are moving from hoarding Bitcoin to spending it. “It’s what Bitcoin was built for — real transactions,” he said. Major stores like Shoprite, Checkers, Makro, and Vodacom are now part of the rollout.
Footing: QR code payments allow users to scan and pay digitally; stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat currencies like the dollar.
