This story is about how cryptocurrency, specifically Shiba Inu coin, is slowly becoming a more common way to pay for things.
A $5,000 Dental Bill, Paid in SHIB
Someone in the US paid a $5,000 dental bill using Shiba Inu! They did it through an app called Zypto, which converts the cryptocurrency to dollars and sends the money to the dentist within 48 hours. This protects the dentist from any sudden changes in the price of Shiba Inu. The patient and the clinic haven’t been publicly identified, but this shows more businesses are open to accepting memecoins.
Michigan Clinic Embraces Crypto
Amore Smiles, a Michigan orthodontist group, is another early adopter. They accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Shiba Inu. They also offer telehealth services and are even storing patient data on a blockchain for extra security. They’re even working on a patent for a new product, making them one of the first dental firms to use Shiba Inu in this way.
Beyond Dentistry: Crypto for Everything?
Zypto is aiming big. They’ve hinted at adding support for paying other bills, like American Express, and plan to work with many more businesses. The idea is that seeing people use crypto for everyday things, like dental bills, will make it more appealing to others.
The Ups and Downs of Crypto Payments
While this is exciting, there are downsides. The value of crypto can change quickly, so if the value of Shiba Inu drops before the payment is processed, the payer could lose money. There are also fees involved in converting crypto to regular money.
The Future of Crypto Payments
It’s still early days, and it’s unclear if this will become a widespread payment method. Some people think these are just isolated incidents, while others believe it shows growing interest in using crypto for everyday transactions. For now, many businesses prefer to convert the crypto to dollars immediately to avoid risks associated with price fluctuations. The risk falls on the customer until the conversion is complete. Whether crypto payments become mainstream remains to be seen.