Pornhub has started accepting cryptocurrency as a payment option, the company announced today. The site now accepts Verge cryptocurrency (no relation to The Verge), a rebranded version of Dogecoindark, which split off from the original meme coin, Dogecoin, in 2014. Now, users can pay for any Pornhub features, including a Premium subscription, using Verge cryptocurrency. Pornhub’s adult sister sites, Brazzers and Nutaku, also accept Verge cryptocurrency now.
Verge cryptocurrency is anonymity-focused, which is why Pornhub executives say they chose it over other potential partners. It should be noted that anyone can view Verge cryptocurrency transactions through its public ledger, but it uses the anonymity tool Tor and an anonymous network layer I2P to hide specific transactions’ IP addresses and locations. Since public ledgers often have their downfalls in protecting anonymity, users also choose to hide on Verge cryptocurrency’s private ledger.
Corey Price, VP at Pornhub, tells The Verge that cryptocurrency offers “convenience and security.” It’s a dubious statement, considering most digital coins have high transaction fees and volatile prices that can be a hassle for users. Companies like Valve and Stripe have ended their cryptocurrency support for those very reasons. Stripe has even gone as far as adding cryptocurrency to its prohibited businesses list.