Global cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com has partnered with Adelaide Oval and Adelaide Crows, in collaboration with financial systems software firm DataMesh, to facilitate cryptocurrency payments at the stadium.

The deal is being positioned as the first-ever integration of crypto payments for a major stadium in Australia. The payment technology and terminals are provided by DataMesh, with services set to be available from April 4, starting with the AFL’s Gather Round event.

Customers can use Crypto.com Pay at various food and drink outlets inside Adelaide Oval. For customers who want to pay with their crypto, Crypto.com is selected as the preferred payment method at the time of checkout to generate a dynamic QR code on the merchant terminal which the customer then scans with their Crypto.com App. The customer selects and authorises their preferred cryptocurrency for payment.

The first 1000 transactions made during Gather Round will receive $10 cashback. The trial of Crypto.com Pay at Adelaide Oval will extend across the remainder of the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, with more promotions planned for the season and Adelaide Crows home games.

"Australians continue to adopt cryptocurrency at a rapid rate and as a company we are constantly innovating to find new ways for people to use crypto in the real world," said Crypto.com General Manager for APAC, Karl Mohan. "The payment technology we are introducing at Adelaide Oval is user-friendly for both the merchant and customer and extremely scalable, and we see a lot of promise for future integrations like this. As a major sponsor of the Adelaide Crows and the AFL, it is exciting to launch this trial during one of the biggest and busiest rounds of the season, and we’re delighted to be able to provide an easy new payment method to thousands of fans."

Crypto.com previously partnered with DataMesh and OTR to launch Australia’s first in-store cryptocurrency payments system in over 440 of Peregrine’s retail outlets across Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

"We are always looking for ways to collaborate with our partners to deliver new initiatives, such as this one, to our members and fans. Whether it’s membership offerings or in this case purchasing food and beverage on game day, we also want to give our supporters the opportunity to choose what best suits them," added Adelaide Crows CEO, Tim Silvers.

"From the outset, our mission has been to dismantle the barriers between traditional payments and the potential use of digital currencies. We empower consumers by enabling smooth and secure cryptocurrency transactions, unlocking a new frontier of payment acceptance. DataMesh's cutting-edge payment technology, which is seamlessly integrated with Echidna POS, empowers Crypto.com users to effortlessly leverage their holdings for everyday purchases, ushering in a new era of crypto adoption," concluded Mark Nagy, CEO of DataMesh.

Founded in 2016, Crypto.com is used by over 80 million customers worldwide.