A new payments application allows for the use of cryptocurrencies in popular retail stores. While the half-hearted step requires the use of a special application as opposed to accepting cryptocurrencies via a wallet/blockchain transaction, it does offer a new use case for spending cryptocurrencies at popular vendors and retailers.

“Companies now officially accepting these cryptocurrencies, according to Flexa, are Barnes & Noble, Baskin Robbins, Bed Bath & Beyond, Caribou Coffee, Crate & Barrel, Express, GameStop, Jamba Juice, Lowe’s, Nordstrom, Office Depot & OfficeMax, Petco, Regal Cinemas, Ulta Beauty and Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market. And of course, there’s Starbucks, in spite of not being part of the official launch. In total, nearly 100 stores are expected to start accepting bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies via the Spedn app by the end of this year.”

Source: Starbucks, Nordstrom And Whole Foods Now Accept Bitcoin. Just Don’t Ask Them.