November is here, and the holiday season is officially in full swing! This month, we’re bringing you the latest in crypto news, exciting updates from BitPay, and a sneak peek at some of the best Black Friday deals you can snag with cryptocurrency. Get ready to shop smarter, stay safer, and celebrate the season with your favorite crypto-friendly merchants.
In This Issue:
Industry News
Read news from across the blockchain industry:
- Bitcoin Blasts Toward $100,000: And It’s Just Getting Started: Bitcoin’s price surge toward the $100,000 milestone is igniting optimism among investors, with analysts suggesting this could be the beginning of an even larger bull run (Forbes).
- Trump and Coinbase CEO Discuss Crypto Regulation: Reports suggest Donald Trump and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong are in talks about crypto-focused personnel appointments (PYMNTS).
- Major Players Launch Layer 2 Networks: Kraken, Coinbase, and Uniswap are making waves by introducing their own Layer 2 blockchains to enhance scalability and user experience (Forbes).
- Mastercard and J.P. Morgan Collaborate on B2B Blockchain: Two financial giants are teaming up to develop an interoperable blockchain solution for business-to-business payments (PYMNTS).
- UBS Pilots Blockchain-Based Payment System: The global financial firm UBS is testing a blockchain-powered payment system to modernize transaction processes (Reuters).
- Detroit to Accept Cryptocurrency Payments: Detroit is poised to become the largest U.S. city to accept cryptocurrency for municipal payments (Detroit News).
- Regulatory Updates: Bitcoin Rights Bill: Pennsylvania passed a Bitcoin Rights Bill proposing the creation of a state strategic Bitcoin reserve (Forbes).
- Aggregated Blockchains: The Future of Web3: Polygon's new aggregated blockchain approach is set to unify Web3, resolving the ongoing Layer 1 vs. Layer 2 debate (Polygon).
- MicroStrategy Buys More Bitcoin: MicroStrategy made headlines again with a $5.4 billion purchase of 55,000 additional Bitcoins, even as its stock faces scrutiny (Yahoo Finance).
- Michigan Pension Fund Backs Ethereum ETFs: A Michigan pension fund has invested $10 million in Grayscale’s Ethereum ETFs, showing institutional confidence in crypto assets (Bitcoin.com).
Shop Black Friday Deals with Crypto
This year’s Black Friday lineup is packed with crypto-powered savings from your favorite merchants!
Marc Gebauer Lifestyle GmbH
Up to 60% off on watches and perfume bundles! The biggest sale of the year is here! Discover unbeatable discounts on luxury watches, fragrances, precious metals, and fashion—all in one place. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your collection. Deals start 11/29 through 12/02.
JomaShop
Rolex Watches: In Stock & Ready To Ship. Choose from over 500+ Styles Up To 15% Off! Deals start 11/08 through 12/24.
eGifter
Double Points on all Gift Cards* purchased at eGifter.com using Bitcoin and other Cryptos. Get Instant Savings by using your Points immediately, or save them for later. * Restrictions apply. Deals start 11/28 through 12/03.
BrandBucket
Free Logo Design with Domain Purchase (a $250 value)
Customers that purchase or lease a domain name on BrandBucket.com between November 22, 2024 and December 6, 2024, and mention the deal FREE LOGO, will be entitled to a custom logo design, valued at $250. Customers will complete a short questionnaire on their logo design preferences, and then will receive 30+ design concepts to choose from. Deal valid from 11/22 through 12/06.
These are just a few of our favorite deals—check out our full roundup for even more incredible offers to maximize your savings this holiday season.
→ See more Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals
Product Update: L2 Network Support and UI Update in the BitPay Wallet
The BitPay Wallet now offers expanded support for Layer 2 networks, including Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism, making it easier than ever to explore the Web3 ecosystem. These networks bring faster transactions and lower fees, opening up new possibilities for managing your crypto. Alongside these updates, we’ve streamlined the wallet interface to make it even more intuitive and user-friendly. Dive into the enhanced features and discover how BitPay Wallet is evolving to meet your crypto needs.
→ See full details about the update
The Farm at Okefenokee
Experience The Farm at Okefenokee, where sustainable living and community thrive together on 705 acres of regenerative farmland. Enjoy a modern, self-sufficient lifestyle with like-minded neighbors and fellow bitcoiners.
- Self-Sufficiency: Produce your own food, water, energy.
- Community: Live with fellow bitcoiners.
- Off-grid Living: Modern amenities included.
- Security: Safe haven from the modern world.
Secure your cabin on The Farm with Bitcoin
The Farm partners with BitPay, allowing you to secure your cabin using bitcoin
Merchant Spotlight: Simply Jet
With offices in Lausanne, Zurich, Paris, and London, Simply Jet caters to a global clientele, providing private jet and helicopter charters, group charters, aircraft sales and acquisitions, as well as the Nova Jet Card tailored for frequent travellers. Our 24/7 flight consultants deliver personalised solutions, ensuring each client’s needs are met with professionalism and care.
Since partnering with BitPay in 2021, Simply Jet has been accepting cryptocurrency payments, offering clients even greater flexibility and confidentiality in their transactions.
→ Book a flight with Simply Jet
Promo: $25 Cryptocurrency Bonus when you activate any Stack Mobile data plan!
Why not get crypto back for something you do already, right? Activate your Stack Mobile account now and score an extra $25 in crypto! Plus, you’ll earn up to 15% crypto back each month.
Questions to Ask Your Payment Processor
Don’t risk partnering with the wrong crypto payments provider. Arm yourself with the right questions to ask when vetting potential partners.
Question #22: What are the settlement options offered?
Read the overview here or download our expanded guide of questions to help spot a reliable and trustworthy crypto partner.
A Glimpse into Bitcoin's History
Since its creation in 2009, Bitcoin has revolutionized the financial landscape as the first decentralized cryptocurrency. As a pioneer in digital payments, Bitcoin introduced the world to the possibilities of blockchain technology and reshaped the way we think about money. Its cultural significance continues to grow, empowering individuals and businesses to embrace a decentralized financial future.
→ Learn more about the history of Bitcoin
Travel with Crypto
BitPay Travel is now open to all! In collaboration with Xeni, BitPay Travel allows crypto users to pay for flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities with their cryptocurrency. Book your travel at great prices and pay straight from your cryptocurrency wallet.
Merchant Shoutouts
Check out this month's merchant shoutouts:
- Shop APMEX’s silver and gold popular categories, including pop culture collectibles. Shop now!
- OneGold gives you direct ownership of vaulted gold, silver, and platinum at an ultra-low cost. Start your free account today.
- Buy a domain name with Namecheap today!
- Ready to start accepting crypto with your Shopify business? Get started today with the BitPay app!
- Instantly deploy high-performance cloud servers, cloud GPUs, bare metal, and cloud storage worldwide with Vultr. New users receive $100 to test their platform.
- Use BrandBucket to name your business.
- Shop US stores and have your items reliably shipped back home with Qwintry
Not a current BitPay merchant?
Developer News
SDK Releases
General Notes
- Python 3.8 will be dropped in Python SDK v7.0.0
- Python 3.13 is now supported in Python SDK v6.1.1
Upcoming Releases
- WooCommerce Plugin v6.0.0 release is imminent and includes:
- Webhook validation
- Latest SDK
- Support package download functionality
- Magento Plugin v10.0.0 is being updated to support SDK v9.0.x
