This is really, really cool.
An expedition company most notable for their trips to the summit of Mt. Everest — the tallest mountain in the world — is now accepting bitcoin payments, as reported by CoinDesk.
Australia-based Mt. Everest Adventures has turned to the digital currency to streamline an simplify how adventurers can pay for their expeditions. Since most of their business is done by individuals outside of Nepal and Australia, accepting bitcoin removes many of the financial restrictions and obstacles experienced using fiat currency.
And since the company is partnered with Australia’s CoinJar, they’ll only be paying a 1 percent fee. Compare that to the 2-3 percent fee charged by a payment gateway, a foreign exchange charge, and a merchant account that is paid for on a monthly basis.
“More than saving, though, it is about easiness,” said company CEO Aseem Jha to CoinDesk.
The total price per person on the trek is about $30,000 — or 52.50 BTC, according to Preev.
Other less expensive treks are available, however, which can be viewed here.