Dallas Mavericks: Purchasing Merchandise with Dogecoin

One of the most well-known cases in the sports industry is associated with the Dallas Mavericks NBA team, owned by famous entrepreneur Mark Cuban. In March 2021, he announced that fans can now purchase tickets and team merchandise with Dogecoin. Many viewed this as a bold move, as Dogecoin had long been considered a meme coin. However, the demand quickly justified the decision.

One month after the launch of sales, Mark Cuban revealed that the revenue from merchandise and ticket sales in Dogecoin exceeded 122,000 DOGE, which was approximately $16,000 at that time. While the amounts are not astronomical by large business standards, they are significant: the club received a powerful PR effect, gained the attention of crypto enthusiasts and the media, and most importantly, demonstrated the real possibility for sports organizations to adopt crypto payments. The Dallas Mavericks position themselves as a tech-savvy club, and such initiatives strengthen their reputation in the eyes of fans. Additionally, calculations through third-party crypto processing solve the issues of conversion and volatility, minimizing risks for the business.

AMC Theatres: 14% of Online Payments Already Occurring in Cryptocurrency

The largest cinema chain in the US, AMC Theatres, integrated the acceptance of cryptocurrencies in the fall of 2021. Visitors gained the opportunity to buy tickets and popcorn using Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu through the AMC app. According to AMC CEO Adam Aron, the innovation quickly resonated with the audience: by early 2022, cryptocurrency accounted for 14% of all online transactions at AMC. Such figures were achieved in just a few months of working on the integration of cryptocurrency. The adoption of Bitcoin allowed AMC to attract a new audience of young tech-savvy moviegoers and increase online ticket sales. Moreover, the company gained a PR effect and reputation, becoming the first in its industry to start accepting digital currencies. AMC management emphasizes that crypto payments have expanded options for customers without any issues for business processes since the conversion of cryptocurrencies to fiat occurs through a third-party provider and is much faster than banks.

Gucci and Luxury Brands: Sales Growth Due to Crypto Buyers

Gucci – one of the most famous fashion houses – began accepting cryptocurrency in retail stores in the US in 2022. Gucci buyers can pay for clothing and accessories with Bitcoins, Ethereum, and other coins. Other luxury brands followed Gucci: for example, Tag Heuer watches and Cartier jewelry can now also be purchased with cryptocurrency. Why do premium brands need crypto payments?

It's about the profile of their customers. According to payment service BitPay, in 2021, sales of luxury goods via cryptocurrency increased from 9% to 31% of all transactions. In other words, more and more wealthy buyers prefer to pay with cryptocurrency. The average bill when paying with Bitcoins is often higher than with regular transactions, which increases revenue. Gucci notes that offering a new payment option attracts young customers and strengthens the brand's image as modern and innovative. The absence of intermediaries when accepting cryptocurrency reduces acquiring fees, which positively impacts the business's margin.

Travala: Success of Crypto Payments in the Travel Business

The online hotel and flight booking service Travala has shown what results can be achieved by betting on crypto payments. The platform was originally created with a focus on the crypto audience and now offers payment with more than 50 different cryptocurrencies: from Bitcoin to its own booking tokens. In 2022, Travala integrated offers from Expedia and Booking.com, opening the opportunity to book over 2 million hotels worldwide with cryptocurrency.

This led to explosive growth in performance: the volume of bookings on Travala in the first half of 2022 increased by 500% compared to the previous year, with up to 70% of orders paid for by customers in cryptocurrency. The company reported record monthly revenue, proving the effectiveness of the "Travel + Crypto" model. Crypto payments allowed Travala to reach a global clientele without ties to banks and traditional payments, reduce transaction costs, and attract a loyal user community.

S7 Airlines: Tickets on the Blockchain and Settlements in 20 Seconds

The Russian airline S7 Airlines became a pioneer in using blockchain for airline ticket payments. Even before the legal approval of direct cryptocurrency payments in Russia, S7, in partnership with Alfa-Bank, launched a platform based on Ethereum for settlements with agencies. The essence is that tickets are paid through a smart contract linked to a bank account, and the transaction data is recorded on the blockchain. This has radically increased the speed and efficiency of settlements. Previously, transfers from agencies to the airline took several days, but now the settlement for a sold ticket occurs in 20 seconds.

S7 reported that in just one month, over ₽1 billion (approximately $15 million) worth of tickets were sold through the new system. Thanks to the implementation of blockchain, the company reduced operational costs and freed up working capital, as money for sold tickets now arrives almost instantly. This case demonstrates the advantages of cryptocurrency technologies for the payment infrastructure of a large company.

Retail in Ukraine: Payment for Electronics and in Pharmacies Using Cryptocurrency

In the CIS countries, large retail businesses are also experimenting with the acceptance of digital money. In Ukraine, after the legalization of cryptocurrencies in 2022, several networks began accepting payments in crypto format. Major electronics stores Techno Їzh and Stylus launched Bitcoin and Ethereum payments both online and at points of sale. Customers now have over 130 different cryptocurrencies available for purchasing gadgets and electronics.

Moreover, in 2023, one of the largest pharmacy chains in the country, ANC announced that over 100 pharmacies now accept cryptocurrency. The impact on business has been unique and immediate: for example, in the first weeks after the launch of crypto payments, internet traffic on the websites of these retailers increased by double-digit percentages, and some customers made large purchases, paying stablecoins for amounts over 100,000 hryvnias in one transaction. For Ukrainian retail, crypto payments opened access to a new audience – IT specialists, investors, foreign customers who prefer to pay using crypto wallets. Moreover, the conversion to hryvnias occurs automatically, so businesses do not suffer from exchange rate volatility.

Conclusion

Real examples show that large companies are transitioning to crypto payments not out of trend, but because it is profitable. Let’s break down why:

• It attracts new customers: companies gain an audience of crypto enthusiasts who are willing to spend more on average.

• Revenue and Average Check Growth — cryptocurrency owners often make larger purchases, and the mere fact of supporting Bitcoin increases loyalty and interest in the brand.

• Operational Efficiency: transactions on the blockchain are processed almost instantly and with reduced fees, without intermediaries and chargebacks, saving time and money for the business.

• Image Advantages – the company is perceived as innovative, keeping up with the times.

Yes, the share of cryptocurrency in total sales is still relatively small, and its implementation requires some work. For example, using crypto processors for automatic conversion to fiat. However, the trend of the last three years is unequivocal: from the USA to the CIS, more and more large players are ready to offer their customers a new convenient payment method.