„After years of testing in a few stores, Pick n Pay intends to expand its #bitcoin payments service to all of its locations in the coming months, according to South African tech news site Tech Central.

The grocery store chain purportedly began testing with Bitcoin payments in Cape Town five years ago but was thwarted by high expenses and long transaction wait times.

The #business said it would let users use #QR codes for quick payments and any Bitcoin Lightning-enabled app.

Customers can use „trusted apps“ on their cellphones to pay for things using #cryptocurrencies or by simply scanning a QR code and agreeing to the conversion rate at the time of payment.

According to the report, Chris Shortt, the group executive for IT at Pick n Pay, stated that due to the development and evolution over the years of #cryptocurrency technology, it is now possible to „provide an affordable service for high volume, low-value transactions that will promote financial inclusion in South Africa.“

During its test program, Pick n Pay allegedly collaborated with #Electrum and CryptoConvert to enable clients to make purchases using the Bitcoin lightning network.

South Africa is making progress regarding accepting cryptocurrencies on the African continent.

 By defining crypto assets in the nation as financial goods, South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (#FSCA) revised its financial guidance in October, enabling the sale of cryptocurrencies by domestic and foreign South African-licensed #financial service providers.

South Africa is positioned in the 30th place globally for bitcoin #adoption according to Chainalysis Inc. 2022 Global Crypto Adoption Index, which was released in September.“