The online hypermarket AMD.by has become the first in Belarus to launch the ability to pay for goods with cryptocurrency, according to the platform's website. It also adds that crypto acquiring operates in conjunction with the WEB PAY payment service.

The announcement specifies: once items have been added to the cart, when placing an order you need to select "Online" — "Cryptocurrency" from the list of payment methods. The system then redirects to a payment page, where payment must be made using the USDT stablecoin. The transaction is processed within ten minutes. After the payment is completed, all that remains is to wait for the order to be confirmed.

We contacted representatives of the online hypermarket and the payment service and asked for comment. We asked how the idea came about, who the cryptocurrency payment option is intended for, and how this is possible given the legislation.

According to Alexander Shevchenko, deputy director for legal affairs at WEB PAY, they first found a partner — a Belarusian crypto exchange — and then worked out the mechanism: the client sells cryptocurrency, the store receives fiat. The ability to pay with cryptocurrency is "designed for all [its holders] who wish to spend it in Belarus on goods and services." This includes "both individuals and the B2B segment" — from "crypto enthusiasts to companies that are ready to accept such payments from counterparties, including foreign ones."

"This is a pilot project approved by the Supervisory Board of the High-Tech Park. The scheme is legal: the payer sells cryptocurrency to the crypto exchange, and the proceeds in rubles are transferred to the merchant through a special WEB PAY account. Thus, the payer uses cryptocurrency, while the merchant accepts non-cash fiat funds, which complies with the law. This is not a gray area but a controlled experiment within the High-Tech Park framework," the comment concludes.