Imagine…
A hybrid personal finance platform that bridges old world banking and new world crypto.
A solution that actually works in favour of Cryptocurrency mass adoption while many of us still depend in various ways on traditional FIAT money…
Yes, it includes REAL bank accounts... REAL debit cards (not prepaid cards)... AND multi-currency crypto wallets — unified on one platform, manageable via desktop or mobile.
But why?
When the principle of Satoshi’s original post was against the credit bubbles and control of centralised banking:
Centralised vs Decentralised:
Andreas Antonopoulos recently described a necessary return to centralised banking services using cross-chain payment rails to ensure crypto payments are kept low, while bitcoin itself serves as a storage of value. Making each individual their own ‘central bank’ in control of their own financial wellbeing and mastery, while tapping in to various global services as desired.
Giving people the ability to choose the level of privacy, autonomy, and access they want based on their own unique situation, and the current stage of global blockchain adoption.
(One example of Andreas discussing off-chain banking is at at 18:20)
(Watch this example of Andreas discussing off-chain banking at 18:20)
And Wirex is working hard to deliver on that vision of hybrid crypto-friendly banking services that position each individual as their own ‘central bank’.
Just a fantasy?
No, just a matter of time as blockchain projects develop over the next few years.
We believe crypto-friendly banking serves the 2018 market to encourage mass adoption.
Today, we’re excited to announce early details of an entirely new fully-integrated crypto finance solution that will be available in Q1:
- Receive salary or any payments direct to your Wirex account
- Exchange fiat into bitcoin (and top altcoins) at any time. High volume limits. No waiting time for bank transfers.
No extra bank transfer fee - Cash out of crypto anytime to make fiat payments easier than ever before (starting with GBP UK bank transfers, international (IBAN) transfers, ATM withdrawal, or shop with Visa. EUR bank accounts with SEPA transfer, and other currency accounts to be added later)
The old approach used by crypto-card providers until today required a complex web of suppliers and integration partners:
Wirex has now simplified the ecosystem by building on top of the W-PAY blockchain platform developed for our business partners and liquidity providers.
We fully understand that this solution is not built for everyone here as many of you are very well versed in the world of cryptos and know how to store and spend your crypto like a pro.
However, many others in the community share our belief in achieving mass adoption of cryptos.
In our minds, the best way to help implement mass adoption is to make navigating through the crypto space as user friendly as possible and we believe the best way to do this is to become the first global hybrid banking solution in support of cryptos.
Is this another ICO?
Thankfully no. Debit card and crypto banking ICOs have been done way too much recently.
As the very first bitcoin debit card and mobile app provider, building the systems and infrastructure for regulatory compliance and scalability has not been easy.
Then our main card issuer had to restrict card accounts only to EU countries. Thousands of our customers around the world left without the convenience of our bitcoin-fundable debit card.
We had only just re-issued tens of thousands of cards at our expense due to a required change from MasterCard to VISA when new restrictions of EU-only were given to us.
With new licensing agreements still in process we could no longer serve the majority of our cherished customers around the world — many who’ve been with us since the beginning!
Including noteable influencers in their own areas like Jeff Berwick (The Dollar Vigilante), Tijo (Arcane Bear), and more. Others who would prefer to remain anonymous.
Due to new compliance, we can’t even call our old product a ‘bitcoin debit card’ as technically the card does not hold bitcoin, it holds fiat.
These same challenges are also being faced by our competitors, both the new ICO startups and the older copycat projects.
Today we believe we have achieved another industry first and important contribution to the community with the launch of a new Wirex Bank Account service, including Virtual Cards, and contactless plastic cards coming soon.
Old style prepaid payment cards funded by bitcoin exchange is old technology.
We believe mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies begins in a big way by mid-2018. And we appreciate all of the support as well as the pushback and challenge from the super-intelligent and committed crypto community.
As investors, consumers, service providers and enthusiasts, we are witness to the paradigm shift from old fiat banking systems to a new world of blockchain tech.
Zero-Fee Bitcoin Transfers:
Off-chain transfers between customer accounts allows us to drop blockchain fees to zero for you and any friends, family or contacts who use a Wirex account. Our off-chain Segwit bitcoin addresses give the best of both worlds.
Private Keys:
Of course, we recommend holding your own private keys for your main store of crypto.
We recommend running your own node and keeping all 150 gigs of the blockchain stored on a hard drive, or using something like a Nano Ledger hardware wallet.
Only keep crypto on an exchange or 3rd party wallet account because you are either trading it, spending it, or sending it (as noted above: Wirex off-chain SegWit enabled wallet allows customer to customer transfers at zero blockchain fee).
Practical Crypto-Friendly Banking For Today’s Market:
Wirex is focused on providing the most practical crypto-friendly banking features for everyday life.
This means our products can be understood and used by people who are new to cryptocurrency. The passion at the Wirex office is all about bringing bitcoin to the mainstream. We want blockchain innovation to thrive.
And hopefully you’ll enjoy the new bank account facilities too.
The new Wirex Account combines the familiarity of real banking services with the extra solutions and opportunities of multiple cryptocurrency wallets.
Multi-Crypto Wallets:
New wallets will be integrated. Dash and Litecoin first. Then others. As fast as we can.
Combined on one single seamless platform, you can now open a crypto friendly bank account and benefit from our real debit cards with no top up fees.
Support from the crypto community helps us reach the masses who are brand new to bitcoin with new educational programs and practical crypto financial management.
But we're not here to make a quick $30 million from ICO.
We’re here to build a comprehensive blockchain finance platform for all.
We're here for the 1,000,000 customer registrations who have used our old bitcoin wallet and debit card services over the past few years.
Many who were put off due to compliance issues beyond our control, but issues that we take to heart and feel a lot of empathy for. Remember, we are crypto enthusiasts too and want to enjoy the same products that you do!
Mainstream adoption means higher cryptocurrency prices (BTD and HODL), greater innovations, lower cost services, better digital asset management, and who knows… we may find opportunity to do a worthwhile ICO in the future for something bigger and better than just crypto cards.
Join the Bank Account waitlist today and you’ll be front-of-line when we get final approval to open accounts from the compliance and developer departments.