Keeping up with the times: Safiin and Azizah showing a plate of their ‘nasi kandar’ at their stall.
KOTA BARU: A humble nasi kerabu stall in the backwaters of Kelantan is the latest to jump onto the virtual currency hype by offering customers the option to pay in Bitcoins.
Jijah’s NK Stall in Kampung Pauh, Badang, located about 25km south-west of the city here, is on the global map of merchants willing to accept the digital cryptocurrency.
Retired army personnel Safiin Mohamed, 65, who introduced the digital payment system at his wife Azizah Derahman’s stall recently, said he believes Bitcoins will be the future medium of exchange.
However, he lamented that the bitcoin fad has yet to catch on here, saying the stall only got eight transactions in two months.
“This is because the value of Bitcoins keeps appreciating fast,” he said, saying one Bitcoin was now worth RM18,701 compared to RM23 four years ago.
“Although customers need only pay 0.00025 in Bitcoin for a packet of nasi kerabu with grilled fish worth RM5, most still prefer paying cash,” he said.
Safiin said those using virtual currency need not fear being robbed.
“One does not need to carry cash, and only needs to scan the QR code from our mobile devices to make payment. Buy, scan and leave without fear of being robbed,” he said.
The enterprising villager said he learnt all about Bitcoins from Google.
“If we do not keep up with future trends, we will be left behind,” he added.
International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde said recently that virtual currencies have the potential to replace traditional notes in the coming decades.
