Crypto

OnePay by Walmart Allows Shoppers to Convert Cryptocurrency to Cash Immediate

Published

2 months ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

OnePay by Walmart Allows Shoppers to Convert Cryptocurrency to Cash Immediate

Key Takeaway:

OnePay, which is supported by Walmart, is working on the incorporation of Bitcoin and Ethereum trading and custody services into its mobile banking app.
The new feature enables users to convert digital assets to U.S. dollars immediately and use them to make in-store purchases and pay using a credit card.
The backend is being provided by fintech infrastructure provider ZeroHash, which is similar to institutional designs at Morgan Stanley and Interactive Brokers.

Walmart is enthusiastically increasing its financial technology presence by introducing digital asset utility to its huge retail ecosystem. The retail giant is transitioning out of the conventional banking business through its majority-owned fintech business, OnePay, to provide a gateway between cryptocurrency and consumer spending.

OnePay Closes the Cryptocurrency and Commerce Gap

The Walmart partner Ribbit Capital has created OnePay, which is a joint venture that is planned to launch cryptocurrency trading and custodial services by the close of 2025. This integration is a major change that the platform has already achieved having already become one of the top-five finance applications on the Apple App Store. OnePay is launching Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as its existing range of high-yield savings, debit cards, and its buy now, pay later offerings, which puts the company in a position to become a one-stop, one-app shopping experience to the American customer.

The most striking feature of this rollout is that it has a smooth conversion mechanism. In opposition to the old-fashioned methods when it could require days to transfer money to a bank account, OnePay users will have the opportunity to convert their crypto assets into U.S. dollars in the app in almost real-time. Such money can be immediately redeemed in Walmart checkouts or charged to balances in OnePay credit cards. This service is a good way of eliminating the technical obstacles that have traditionally divided the digital resources and the weekly grocery shopping.

Read More: Amazon and Walmart’s Stablecoin Ambitions Could Disrupt Crypto Payments Landscape

Technical Infrastructure and Partnerships

In order to support such services, OnePay is collaborating with ZeroHash, a Chicago-based infrastructure company focused on the settlement of digital assets. ZeroHash recently announced the close of a $104 million financing round with Interactive Brokers highlighting its expanding position as the plumbing of mainstream crypto adoption. Through an existing third party supplier, OnePay does not encounter the regulatory and technical challenges of developing a custom trading engine.

The presented infrastructure option will guarantee that OnePay will be able to accommodate large-volume transactions and still be compliant with the financial rules of the U.S. ZeroHash offers the APIs needed to bridge the blockchain networks to the standard banking rails that Walmart operates in the traditional banking infrastructure. This arrangement is similar to the approach taken by large brokerage firms such as the E-Trade of Morgan Stanley which is also gearing up to provide direct exposure to crypto to its clients.

Cryptomic Utility Scaling 150M Weekly Shoppers

The move by Walmart into the crypto-to-cash world is noteworthy due to the huge number of its users. The retailer has a customer base of about 150 million customers each week in the United States alone. Whereas crypto-native products, such as Coinbase and Kraken, are aimed at investors, OnePay targets a market segment, which, perhaps, does not care about professional trading features as much as they care about the practical utility of their assets.

The program arrives when the institutional interest in the digital asset sector grows. Bitcoin has just exceeded the figure of 120,000 and market capitalization of the stablecoins has increased to an all-time high of 300 billion. These milestones have generated a new demand for retail friendly crypto products which are not simply speculative, but are efficient in terms of payments.

Read More: Coinbase Bets Big on Prediction Markets, Acquiring The Clearing Company to Scale Onchain Event Trading

walmart

Influence on the Retail Fintech Scene

The shift places OnePay in the full-fledged competition with leading fintech companies such as PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App offered by Block. These solutions have been providing different types of crypto support over the years, but the fact that Walmart is thoroughly integrated with traditional retail is what provides OnePay an edge over the competition. As a user, the fact that one can manage a paycheck, get rewards, and use Bitcoin in the same ecosystem to purchase their household items is an impressive value proposition.

According to industry observers, it is one of several trends that are moving toward financialization of retailing. By providing a digital wallet that can be used with both fiat and crypto, Walmart is effectively proving to take over a larger portion of the financial life-cycle of the consumer. This decreases the dependence on the conventional banks and credit card networks, which may minimize transaction costs to the retailer and provide greater freedom to the customer.

Crypto

Debate Brews Over Crypto Kiosks As Lawmakers Consider Potential Ban

Published

6 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Debate Brews Over Crypto Kiosks As Lawmakers Consider Potential Ban

Lawmakers Consider Crypto ATM Ban as Scam Losses Rise — Including in Central Minnesota

Minnesota lawmakers are considering banning cryptocurrency kiosks as scam losses continue to rise across the state—including in Central Minnesota.

There are currently about 350 crypto kiosks operating statewide, located in places like gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. These machines allow users to deposit cash and convert it into cryptocurrency, which can then be sent electronically.

Law enforcement officials say scammers are increasingly directing victims to use these kiosks because once the money is sent, it is extremely difficult—if not impossible—to recover.

Police say scams often begin with a phone call, text, or online message. In many cases, scammers pose as government officials, tech support workers, or even romantic partners. Victims are eventually told to withdraw cash and deposit it into a crypto kiosk to “protect” their money or resolve a supposed emergency.

Central Minnesota has seen similar cases. Because St. Cloud serves as a regional hub for shopping and services, crypto kiosks are available locally, giving scammers access points to target area residents.

Some say kiosks also serve legitimate users

Despite the concerns, crypto kiosks do offer legitimate benefits. They allow people to purchase cryptocurrency quickly using cash, without needing a traditional bank account, credit card, or online exchange. Supporters say this can make cryptocurrency more accessible, especially for people who prefer cash transactions or have limited access to banking services.

Crypto kiosks can also be used to send money quickly, including international transfers, without relying on traditional wire services. Some users view them as a convenient way to invest in cryptocurrency or move money electronically without going through a bank.

Companies that operate the machines say the vast majority of transactions are legitimate and that kiosks include warnings about scams. They argue the focus should be on stopping scammers, not banning the machines entirely.

Lawmakers weighing next steps

Supporters of the proposed ban say removing the kiosks could help prevent fraud and protect vulnerable residents, particularly older adults. Law enforcement officials told lawmakers that crypto kiosk scams have resulted in significant financial losses statewide.

Minnesota passed regulations in 2024 requiring some safeguards, including limits on deposits for new users and refund requirements in certain fraud cases. But officials say scammers have continued to adapt.

The bill remains under consideration at the Capitol.

In the meantime, authorities urge Central Minnesota residents to be cautious. Officials emphasize that legitimate government agencies, law enforcement, and businesses will never ask someone to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency kiosk.

As cryptocurrency becomes more common, lawmakers are now weighing whether the risks to consumers outweigh the convenience and accessibility these machines provide.

10 (More) Hilariously Bad Google Reviews of Central MN Landmarks

Crypto

Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud: Bizman loses Rs 2.6 cr to crypto, investment fraud | Hyderabad News – The Times of India

Published

18 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Hyderabad: A 69-year-old businessman from Somajiguda lost 2.65 crore allegedly in a cryptocurrency and stock investment fraud. Based on his complaint, Hyderabad Cyber Crime police have registered a case.The complainant was first contacted by a fraudster posing as Ramya Krishnan on Aug 30, 2025 through Facebook. She persuaded the victim to invest in a cryptocurrency and stock trading platform, Polyus Finance PFP Gold, hosted at the domain pfpgoldfx.vip, promising high returns to finance his proposed resort and apparel ventures.Fraudsters provided the victim a contact number for daily communication and sent screenshots showing notional profits credited in his wallet in USDT cryptocurrency. To build trust, the fraudster even allowed the victim a token withdrawal of 4,300 on Sept 12, 2025.Encouraged, the victim transferred over 2.65 crore in 10 transactions between Sept 10 and Dec 39, 2025 to various current accounts provided by the accused.When he attempted to withdraw his ‘earnings’, the accused demanded an additional 15% conversion commission. After he refused, the website became inaccessible and calls to the fraudsters went unanswered.Realising that he was duped, the victim filed an online report on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) before approaching the Cyber Crime police on Feb 25.Based on his complaint, a case was registered under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act and Sections 111(2)(b) (Organised crime), 318(4) (Cheating), 319(2) (Cheating by personation), 336(3) (Forgery for purpose of cheating), 338 (Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.) and 340(2) (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on Wednesday. Police were analysing financial transactions to identify and arrest the accused.

Crypto

Terror groups receive $1.7b. from Iran through Binance | The Jerusalem Post

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Terror groups receive .7b. from Iran through Binance | The Jerusalem Post

Iranians were able to access more than 1,500 Binance accounts last year, and $1.7 billion was transferred from two of them to terrorist proxies, The New York Times reported Monday.

That was a potential violation of global sanctions, the report said, citing company records and documents collected by internal investigators.

The cryptocurrency exchange site reportedly fired or suspended at least four employees cited in the internal investigation. The company blamed “violations of company protocol” relating to its clients’ data, the Times reported.

The report came days after The Jerusalem Post spoke with experts from blockchain intelligence platform NOMINIS.io about how the Iranian regime was evading Western sanctions through cryptocurrencies.

The regime maintains a steady income using cryptocurrency through oil sales to Russia and China, NOMINIS CEO Snir Levi said at the time.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to failing to implement a program to prevent money laundering, arrives for his sentencing in federal district court in Seattle, Washington. (credit: REUTERS/Deborah Bloom)

Regarding the latest scandal, he told the Post this week: “The latest allegations about Binance come months after the lawsuit by the victims’ families of October 7 – the ongoing Balva [versus] Binance case.

The majority of the allegations can be easily confirmed by on-chain data. There are thousands of cases where money has been sent and received to and from wallets that have clear connections to Iran.”

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is being sued by the families of American victims and hostages of the October 7 massacre. He has been accused of knowingly enabling Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to transfer more than $1b. through its platform, including more than $50 million after the October 7 massacre.

Zhao pleaded guilty to anti-money-laundering violations in connection with Binance in 2023. US President Donald Trump pardoned him last October.

“They say what he did was not even a crime,” Trump told reporters last October. “It wasn’t a crime. That he was persecuted by the Biden administration, and so I gave him a pardon at the request of a lot of very good people.”

Binance representative Rachel Conlan said the accounts linked to the $1.7b. in Iranian transactions have been removed and the relevant authorities were informed.

“Any suggestion that Binance knowingly allowed sanctionable activity to continue unchecked is incorrect and defamatory,” she said, despite Zhao’s earlier admission of anti-money-laundering violations.

More than half a dozen compliance officials have left Binance, including a sanctions manager and the leader of the enterprise compliance team, over the past few months, the Times reported.

“No investigator was dismissed for raising compliance concerns or for reporting potential sanctions issues,” Conlan said in a statement to The Guardian.

Democrat senator opens inquiry into cryptocurrency company

While Conlan insisted there was no wrongdoing, US Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) opened an inquiry into Binance on Tuesday, seeking records of the company’s dealings in Hong Kong , where funds have previously been transferred in a network against sanctions.

“Binance appears to have ignored warnings and recommendations to prevent Iranian money-laundering schemes on its cryptocurrency exchange,” Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Binance co-chief executive Richard Teng.

“According to documents obtained by the Times and the Journal, Binance was even warned that Hexa Whale was financing terrorist organizations such as the Yemeni Houthis, and internal investigators found cryptocurrency transfers to wallets associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and payments to crew members of Russia’s sanctions-evading shadow fleet of oil tankers,” he wrote.

“Instead of actually preventing illicit use, Binance has sought to evade accountability and influence the White House through lobbying and a financial partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the cryptocurrency firm owned by the sons of President Trump and his special envoy Steve Witkoff… This influence campaign has worked: In May 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it was dismissing a lawsuit against Binance for lying to regulators and mishandling funds, followed in October by the stunning Presidential pardon of founder Changpeng Zhao.”

“The scale of the newly revealed illicit transfers – uncaught until nearly $2 billion flowed to sanctioned entities – and the unexplained firing of internal investigators call into question Binance’s compliance with American sanctions and banking laws, and its 2023 agreement to resolve the previous federal investigation,” Blumenthal wrote.