Keplerk, a French cryptocurrency platform, signed a partnership with country tobacco shops in order to be able to offer Bitcoin to their customers starting early 2019. At the same time, French regulators, together with the Central Bank of France, warned consumers about risks associated with digital currency investments.
Keplerk now claims to have over 27,000 operators, which is a huge points of sale cryptocurrency network. The firm reached an even wider network thanks to the agreement with 10,000 French points of sale that include tobacco shops. The idea is to sell different crypto assets. In France there are currently 24,000 licensed tobacconists. They also sell cellphone operators credits, video streaming services, music streaming services and lottery tickets.
The French tobacco shops now gain a brand new revenue source. Keplerk will finance this commercial venture through a 7% commission fee charged on the prucahses made. The company’s director for strategy and development, Adil Zakhar, declared:
Tobacco shop owners are the best channel as they are trusted by customers and they are used to sell vouchers such as credit for mobile phones.
Keplerk has been planning this project for over 18 months now, trying to find ways to reach the retail investors. New clients will be able to buy Bitcoin vouchers from the tobacco shops and use those tickets to get the purchased cryptocurrencies through the electronic wallet the company offers.
The legal side of things was taken care of. Tobacco shops are going to start selling BTC starting January 1st 2019. The business side of things was validated by a Bank Of France offshoot but not by the actual bank, as expected. At that day up to 4,000 tobacconists will have the vouchers available.
Fiat-to-crypto deals between Keplerk and the retail consumers are not going to be supervised by French authorities. This was highlighted by a statement made by the Central Bank of France:
Those are purely speculative assets and not currencies. Those who invest in Bitcoin or other crypto-assets do it at their own risk. No agreement is discussed or envisaged on the subject.
