If you’ve been hearing the word “crypto’ a lot lately, you’re not alone. And if you’re curious about whether you may be missing out on something important, well, you’ve come to the right place.

November is Crypto Literacy Month, an initiative designed by CryptoLiteracy.org, a consortium of industry insiders Coinme, CoinDesk and Digital Currency Group to promote education and awareness of this digital commerce option.

There have been a lot of interesting developments on the cryptocurrency front. CNBC, for example, recently announced that Mastercard is poised to introduce crypto into their products, including Bitcoin wallets, credit and debit cards that earn rewards in crypto, and loyalty programs where airline and hotel points can be converted into bitcoin.

Bitcoin ATMs (abbreviated as BATM) are starting to pop up in the area, reflecting a national trend that has seen the number of BATMs more than double in just the past year. A BATM is a kiosk that allows a person to buy Bitcoin using an automatic teller machine. Some Bitcoin ATMs offer bi-directional functionality enabling both the purchase and sale of Bitcoin for cash. Bitcoin machines are not exactly the same as traditional ATMs but work in a similar fashion.

BATM kiosks are connected to the Internet, allowing the insertion of cash or a credit card in exchange for Bitcoin. They look like traditional ATMs, but they connect the customer directly to a Bitcoin exchange instead of a bank account for a localized and convenient way to purchase Bitcoin in person. Common locations for Bitcoin ATMs are inside of a retail store, shop, tavern, restaurant, mall or airport.

Another recent development is the availability of gift cards with cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin that can be used to purchase Amazon, Fortnite V-bucks, Google Play, iTunes, Nintendo Store, PlayStation Network, Roblox, Steam, the Xbox Store and other leading brands.

If you’re looking for more information about how your business can get in on the crypto game, give us a call at (800) 866-3944. And if you want to test your crypto knowledge, hop on over to CryptoLiteracy.org and take the Crypto Literacy Challenge or learn more about crypto from one of their crypto literacy courses.