River Enables Bitcoin Payments via Text, Email, Messaging App

Bitcoin technology and financial services company River launched a feature that enables global bitcoin payments via text message.

With the new River Link, users can send a link via text, email or messaging app, and recipients can claim the bitcoin sent to any wallet, anywhere in the world, according to a Thursday (Dec. 14) press release.

“The traditional bitcoin payment experience is clunky,” River CEO Alex Leishman said in the release. “FinTech companies have attempted to solve this by making both users transact on the same app. While this improves the experience, it restricts user choice and dictates which app people need to use.”

The River Link feature is user-centric, matches bitcoin’s ethos of an open network and reimagines the bitcoin payment experience, Leishman said, per the release.

River Link does not require users to ask for on-chain or Lightning payment information, according to the release.

“Simply enter the amount of the River Link, text it to your friend, and they can claim the bitcoin to any wallet,” River Chief Operating Officer Julia Duzon said in the release. “This experience is truly frictionless, interoperable and open — the way bitcoin was always intended to be.”

PYMNTS Intelligence found that bitcoin enjoys a comfortable lead above all other cryptocurrencies in terms of consumer use and awareness.

Twelve percent of consumers hold bitcoin, 5% have held it in the last 12 months and 2% have held it at some point in time, according to “The U.S. Crypto Consumer: Cryptocurrency Use in Online and in-Store Purchases,” a PYMNTS and BitPay collaboration.

In addition, 74% of consumers who have never held bitcoin have heard of it, the report found.

In another development in the cryptocurrency space, it was reported Thursday that Lolli has raised $8 million to expand its bitcoin/cash back rewards program.

Launched in 2018, Lolli’s rewards program gives users bitcoin or cash back when they shop online or in person at restaurants and stores.

Meanwhile, Block launched a self-custody bitcoin wallet called Bitkey in 95 countries Dec. 7, saying this solution allows people to “truly own the keys to their bitcoin.”

For all PYMNTS crypto coverage, subscribe to the daily Crypto Newsletter.