Malaysia crypto-friendly merchants: Ivan Tan didn’t expect to use Bitcoin to pay for his latte one Saturday morning in Mont Kiara—but that’s exactly what happened.
He’d heard whispers from his crypto circle that a café tucked behind a coworking space was “Web3-friendly.” Curious, he walked in, spotted a small Bitcoin sticker near the cash register, and asked the barista, half-joking, “Can I actually pay with crypto?”
To his surprise, she nodded. A QR code appeared on the POS screen. Ivan scanned it with his mobile wallet and—voilà—one cappuccino, paid with Ethereum.
“I wasn’t sure if it would go through,” he said with a laugh. “But it did. And now I kinda want to find more places like this.”
Crypto in Malaysia: Not Mainstream, But It’s Getting There
Ivan’s experience isn’t unique among the growing number of Malaysians dabbling in digital assets. Though Malaysia crypto-friendly merchants are still more the exception than the norm, the scene is slowly blossoming.
While you won’t find Bitcoin payments accepted at major chains like Watsons or 7-Eleven (yet), Ivan discovered that in certain corners of Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru, crypto payments are not only possible—they’re quietly encouraged.
He’s since come across a boutique gaming store near Sunway that lets customers buy graphics cards using Bitcoin. “It was a lifesaver during the GPU shortage,” he joked.
These businesses often use payment gateways like BitPay or CoinGate, converting crypto to ringgit instantly, which protects both merchants and customers from price swings. “They said my payment was settled in seconds,” Ivan noted. “Felt just like using a credit card—except cooler.”
The Kinds of Merchants Ivan Discovered
Over the next few weeks, Ivan made it a point to hunt for more crypto-friendly spots. Here’s what he found:
- Cafés & Eateries: Besides the Mont Kiara café, he found another in Penang that proudly displays a “We Accept Crypto” sign in the window. The owner? A former blockchain dev.
- Tech & Retail Shops: A small electronics store in PJ let him pick up a portable SSD and settle the bill with Litecoin. “The owner was into mining back in the day,” Ivan said.
- Online Stores: Ivan bought a web hosting package and even a digital NFT art print from Malaysian platforms that offered crypto checkouts—and sometimes, a small discount.
- Real Estate Services: Though not a common practice, one property agent Ivan spoke with allowed partial down payments in USDT for international buyers. “It’s rare,” the agent admitted, “but it’s starting to pop up.”
Malaysia crypto-friendly merchants: How He Found These Merchants
It wasn’t easy at first. Ivan had to dig.
“There’s no big master list,” he explained. “So I went on CoinMap, checked Reddit threads, and asked people at crypto meetups.”
One Telegram group even led him to a mobile mechanic in Johor Bahru who takes Bitcoin for car diagnostics. “That one blew my mind,” he laughed.
Malaysia crypto-friendly merchants: Not Everything Was Smooth Sailing
Ivan hit a few bumps, too.
- One merchant’s wallet address was expired, and his transaction failed.
- Another seller on an eCommerce site demanded a manual transfer with no invoice—a red flag.
- And once, Ethereum gas fees cost more than the snack he was trying to buy.
Then there’s regulation. “I asked for a receipt once, and the café gave me a printed note that just said ‘Paid – Crypto.’ Kinda sketchy but also charming,” he said.
Crypto is legal in Malaysia but regulated, and many merchants aren’t entirely clear on tax rules. “They just want to support adoption,” Ivan shrugged.
Malaysia crypto-friendly merchants: So, Why Are These Merchants Doing It?
From what Ivan observed, it boils down to two reasons:
- They’re believers in the tech.
- They already hold crypto themselves.
One café owner told him, “We don’t get many crypto payments—but the ones we do get? They’re from people who keep coming back.”
“It’s like a community,” Ivan realized. “You’re not just a customer—you’re a fellow crypto nerd.”
Final Thoughts: Crypto in Malaysia Is Quietly Thriving
So, is Malaysia becoming more crypto-friendly?
Ivan thinks so. “It’s not everywhere—but if you know where to look, it’s there.”
He still uses ringgit most days, but occasionally, he pulls out his phone wallet just to see if it works. “Sometimes, it’s just about the thrill,” he said. “Other times, it’s about supporting the ecosystem.”
And when friends ask him, “Wait, you actually buy stuff with crypto?” he just smiles and replies, “Wanna come with me for coffee?”
Spoiler: he’s paying.
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