On the 1st of October 2017 Student Experience Management announced the launch of a pilot project testing the viability of Bitcoin as a method of payment for programmes and services. This will provide individuals and students with the ability to use Bitcoin as a method of payment for Pathway Programmes, workshops or even Student Experience devices on the website.

So how will it work?

According to the statement, paying for goods at Student Experience Centres using Bitcoin is a rather simple process. First, you select the goods and services from the Student Experience Management website, add them to a basket and proceed to the online checkout. Once you have confirmed your order and completed the simultaneous online registration who will be redirected to checkout. Now, the process changes, customers can now select an additional payment method as Bitcoin and a QR code will be presented on-screen.

While that is happening, you’ll open up your mobile Bitcoin wallet app, select the scan option and point your device camera to the QR code that would have been printed to scan it.Once you’ve scanned the QR code, you’ll be shown the amount of Bitcoin that you’ll spend in that transaction and if you’re satisfied then it’s as simple as clicking pay and your Bitcoin will be spent on your selected course or product from Student Experience Management.The same feature is available at two of the Student Experience Centres via the Point of Sale service as part of the initial pilot project.

Widening Acceptance

“Even though this payment method is only available as part of our test phase, if the project does become successful it will be rolled out to Student Experience Centres countrywide” says Nadia Landman, Specialist Consultant at Student Experience Management. “Cryptocurrencies, in general, are still a new thing in terms of being used as a payment method and we are hoping that it increases access to education solutions in SA.” says Landman.We would be interested to know your thoughts on this. Do you own any Bitcoin? Have you paid for something using Bitcoin? If you don’t own any or haven’t used it for payments, why haven’t you done so?