Via Varejo Partners with Airfox: A Game Changer for Blockchain Payments in Retail

Revolutionizing Retail with Blockchain

Via Varejo, a titan in the Brazilian retail sector, has recently formed a union with blockchain payment platform Airfox, signaling a bold step towards modernizing payment solutions. This partnership, announced on September 12, is set to integrate Airfox’s innovative digital banking system into Via Varejo’s e-commerce operations and its extensive physical store network.

What This Means for Consumers

Through this collaboration, customers shopping at Casa Bahia can now enjoy the benefits of direct payments using Airfox or opt for convenient microloans offered by the retailer. This means that whether you’re eyeing that sleek refrigerator or a comfy couch, the purchasing process just got a whole lot easier. Not only can you buy goods, but the app also allows for personal finance management, such as depositing and withdrawing cash directly at the store—pretty handy, huh?

The Role of Airfox

Airfox, which initially launched in February 2018, sits at the crux of this transformation in payment processing. With capabilities that merge traditional fiat payments with blockchain technology through its AirToken (AIR), an ERC-20 token, Airfox is paving the way for digital transactions across the globe. The collaboration with Via Varejo is a step towards making blockchain payments more mainstream.

“This partnership allows us to extend our mobile digital wallet to Via Varejo’s national customer base,”

said a spokesperson from Airfox.

A Goliath in Retail

As a key player in Brazil’s consumer electronics and home appliances market, Via Varejo boasts a staggering reach of about 60 million customers through its brands, including Casa Bahia and Pontofrio. With over 900 stores spanning 350 cities and an impressive flow of around 1 million deliveries monthly, this company is not slowing down anytime soon. In fact, they hit approximately $6.3 billion in sales back in 2017!

What’s Next?

As other retailers take note of this partnership, especially following the recent news that Post Oak Motor Cars has begun accepting cryptocurrencies at their luxury dealership, we could be witnessing the start of a seismic shift in how consumers engage with technology and retail. Who knows? Next time you’re at Casa Bahia, you might just pay with a simple tap of your smartphone, even if your wallet feels a bit lighter.