NetworkNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The cannabis market in the U.S. and worldwide continues to grow, but that doesn’t mean everyone is open to the idea of legal marijuana. The banking industry is one example, as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has generally been unsupportive of backing cannabis-related investments. Since marijuana hasn’t been legalized at the federal level, most banks are hesitant to have any part of the $6.7 billion marijuana industry. While many industry experts expect this stance to change amid growing support for a bankable marijuana industry, 70 percent of cannabis companies currently operate without access to a corporate bank account. Industry innovators are gearing up to fill this payments gap, however. SinglePoint, Inc. (SING) (SING Profile) recently announced an alternative payment solution in partnership with First BitCoin Capital Corp. (BITCF) to develop a bitcoin payment solution for the marijuana industry. Other major players on the rising bitcoin market include price-tracking Bitcoin Investment Trust (GBTC) and a growing number of retailers, including Overstock.com, Inc. (OSTK) and mobile gaming company Zynga, Inc. (ZNGA), that are currently accepting digital currencies.

A lack of bank support hasn’t deterred SinglePoint, Inc. (SING) from aggressively expanding its market reach to the 29 states that have legalized medical marijuana. Demonstrative of its insight into the opportunities afforded by mounting acceptance and legalization of marijuana, SinglePoint recently announced its partnership with First Bitcoin Capital (BITCF), a leading provider of bitcoin technology, to create a viable payments solution for unbanked cannabis businesses.

Using “blockchain technology”, the solution will target high-risk payment verticals and enable customers to use their credit or debit cards at a medical/recreational cannabis dispensary – a capability that will benefit customers as well as the swelling number of cannabis suppliers and dispensaries across the nation.

"We are optimistic that our partnership with SinglePoint will produce positive cash flow to our bottom line. Between the two of our companies, we will have the ability to develop a best in class solution and SinglePoint will be able to help in distribution. We look forward to providing cutting edge products and services to all states through the establishment of this new venture," Greg Rubin of First Bitcoin Capital stated in the press release (http://nnw.fm/7XlMo).

This isn’t the first time SinglePoint has undertaken significant integration. The company has successfully completed technology integrations with Twilio, RedFynn and IATS, as well as ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon, enabling SinglePoint to provide its text message marketing and text-based payment solutions. Leveraging this experience, along with First Bitcoin Capital’s expertise, the companies plan to develop payment technology that can be easily implemented into any point-of-sale machine through a simple download of the application.

SinglePoint, through its SingleSeed Payments subsidiary (www.SingleSeed.com), already has its roots as a payment solutions provider to the cannabis industry. SingleSeed Payments delivers tools and support specifically crafted to help cannabis businesses stay on top of key issues in the retail and recreational markets in order to build their customer base and develop effective strategies.

As SinglePoint continues to diversify its investment portfolio (http://nnw.fm/Ds3d9) – which includes a stake in Convectium, the manufacturer and distributor of an innovative equipment and packaging solution in the cannabis industry, and Discount Indoor Garden Supply (“DIGS”) – the company is proving its foresight into the demand for new capabilities and technologies such as digital currency and is also set to benefit from anticipated investments in cannabis (http://nnw.fm/i3WwI).

The demand for bitcoin isn’t only on the retail side, however. It is also gaining ground in the investment community.

Recently named to OTC Markets Group’s “OTCQX Best 50” for 2017, Bitcoin Investment Trust (GBTC) enables investors to gain exposure to bitcoin’s price movement through a traditional investment vehicle, sidestepping the challenges of buying, storing and safekeeping bitcoins. Bitcoin Investment Trust’s shares are the first publicly quoted securities that are solely invested in and deriving value from the price of bitcoin. Bitcoin Investment Trust is sponsored by Grayscale, a digital currency group company, which is also a sponsor of the Ethereum Classic Investment Trust.

Digital currencies are on track to transform finance, and the potential application of this technology goes well beyond the cannabis industry and the borders of the United States. In Japan, for example, experts forecast bitcoin will soon be accepted in 260,000 stores. Though not on par with the pace overseas, more U.S.-based retailers are participating in the growing phenomena of “Internet money.”

Overstock.com (OSTK), in 2014, became the first major U.S. retailer to accept bitcoin. A brief two years, later Overstock began to issue stock over the Internet, becoming the first publicly traded company to do so. According to a December 2016 article at Wired.com, Overstock distributed more than 126,000 shares via bitcoin blockchain. Controlled by a global network of computers, this blockchain (an online ledger) isn’t controlled by any government or single company, which adds to its allure. It tracks all financial exchanges. In addition to money, it can track stocks and bonds as well. Blockchain shares are driven through a broker and other middlemen to satisfy regulatory requirements, making them not much unlike a stock offering.

Zynga (ZNGA) was also among the first to jump into digital currency. The mobile gaming provider, which was recently upgraded to an Overweight rating at Morgan Stanley, in January 2014 took note of rising popularity of bitcoin and, via Reddit, announced it would begin testing the currency as payment for in-game purchases. At the time, bitcoin was priced around $1,200. Today, one bitcoin is the equivalent to more than $2,715.

From consumer products at Overstock.com to high-risk verticals such as cannabis, digital currency continues to pick up momentum worldwide. With a nod to the need for payment solutions in the marijuana industry, SinglePoint is on track to become the preferred payment solution in the marijuana industry, which is predicted to grow to $24 billion by the year 2026, based on New Frontier projections.

For more information on SinglePoint please visit: Singlepoint (SING) or www.SinglePoint.com

About NetworkNewsWire

NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides to users (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) enhanced press release services, and (3) a full array of social communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. NNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.

NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer

DISCLAIMER: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by NNW are solely those of NNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable NNW for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. NNW are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, NNW, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer's securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment.

NNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and NNW undertake no obligation to update such statements.



Source:

NetworkNewsWire



Contact:

NetworkNewsWire (NNW) 
New York, New York 
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office 
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
First Bitcoin Capital (PK) (USOTC:BITCF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Oct 2024 to Nov 2024 Click Here for more First Bitcoin Capital (PK) Charts.
First Bitcoin Capital (PK) (USOTC:BITCF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2023 to Nov 2024 Click Here for more First Bitcoin Capital (PK) Charts.