WordPress, the widely used blogging platform and content management system, has made a significant announcement by adding Bitcoin as a payment option for its paid services. As the 22nd most accessed site globally, WordPress.com hosts millions of blogs and websites. The move to accept Bitcoin stems from the company's mission to promote freedom of information and provide accessible publishing tools to individuals worldwide.
One primary motivation behind WordPress's decision to adopt Bitcoin is the restrictive policies of traditional payment networks, such as PayPal and credit card companies. These limitations have hindered users from purchasing WordPress's premium services in countries where they are most needed. The release highlights that PayPal alone blocks access from over 60 countries, and similar restrictions apply to credit card companies. WordPress believes that individuals in Kenya, Haiti, Cuba, Iraq, and other nations should not have limited access to the blogosphere due to payment constraints they cannot control. The company aims to empower people and eliminate barriers.
An additional benefit of Bitcoin acceptance, which WordPress did not explicitly mention, is the anonymity it offers. Many bloggers operating in restrictive regimes rely on pseudonyms for their safety, and conventional payment methods like credit cards and PayPal expose the payer's physical identity. Bitcoin's inherent privacy features provide bloggers, dissidents, and individuals living under authoritarian regimes with a greater chance to evade persecution.
While WordPress's paid services encompass various features like ad-free experiences, custom design, domain mapping, extra storage, and premium themes, not all options will be immediately available for Bitcoin payments. Domains and individually purchased themes will require more time before accepting Bitcoin. However, WordPress assures users that Bitcoin will be integrated as a payment method for all products within the next two or three months.
WordPress, already a popular
platform for Bitcoin users, supports numerous e-commerce plugins, including
BitPay integration. The platform's user-friendly nature has attracted many
Bitcoin-related websites, such as Bitcoin Magazine, which utilizes WordPress as
its content publishing backend. WordPress's growing prominence, with over
100,000 new blogs created daily, extends beyond blogs to encompass company
websites, news sites, social networks, and e-commerce applications. Being the
largest website to accept Bitcoin thus far, WordPress's decision is likely to
inspire confidence in other major businesses considering Bitcoin adoption. This
move may encourage potential adopters like Reddit and numerous undisclosed
businesses to follow suit, leading to broader acceptance of Bitcoin in the
online ecosystem.