U.S.-based retail chain Bealls will start accepting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and USDC as payment through a partnership with Flexa, a digital payments infrastructure provider.

Bealls Inc., which operates over 660 stores across 22 U.S. states, said in an Oct. 20 press release that it has become the first national retailer to accept cryptocurrencies as a means of payment from any crypto wallet app from over a dozen blockchain networks.

“Digital currency will reshape how the world transacts, and Bealls is proud to be at the forefront of that transformation. Our partnership with Flexa is about more than payments; it’s about preparing for the future of commerce and continuing to innovate for the next 110 years,” Bealls Inc. Chairman & CEO Matt Beal was quoted as saying.

According to Flexa co-founder Trevor Filter, the partnership has been in the works over the past few years. It also coincided with Bealls Inc.’s 110th anniversary.

Home Centric, a home goods retail chain owned and operated by Bealls Inc., will also start accepting crypto as part of the integration. 

Bealls will leverage Flexa Payment, Flexa’s all-in-one solution for merchants, which will allow the retail chain to accept major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even meme coins like Dogecoin, from over 300 supported wallets. Flexa Payment can be directly integrated with existing retail systems, enabling seamless in-store transactions that benefit from the sub-second settlement times associated with blockchain-powered payments.

Crypto adoption among retailers

Crypto use in day-to-day scenarios has seen steady growth as more consumers look for new ways to spend their digital assets. According to Bealls, approximately 28% of American adults now hold cryptocurrency, a figure that continues to rise.

Several prominent retailers have likewise begun accepting digital currencies as demand for alternative payment methods has increased across both physical and online stores.

Metro, a major player in Singapore’s retail scene, began taking stablecoins like USDC and USDT this year after partnering with DTCPAY.

Among the early movers is American multinational chain Chipotle, which began accepting crypto in 2022, also in partnership with Flexa. More recently, Steak ‘N Shake, another American fast-food chain, started accepting Bitcoin in March this year.