Jamestown, a global, design-focused real estate investment and management firm, today announced it will accept rent payments in the form of cryptocurrency through a new partnership with BitPay. The program includes Jamestown’s properties in the United States and a plan to expand to Europe, making it one of the most significant cryptocurrency payment programs to date in the commercial real estate industry.
“Blockchain technology and the digital assets it enables, like cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens, are key components to the evolution of real estate,” said Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown. “Allowing for cryptocurrency payments is part of our commitment to innovation and larger digital asset strategy to optimize and maximize our physical real estate through technology and virtual integrations.”
Through BitPay, the world’s largest provider of bitcoin and cryptocurrency payment services, Jamestown will accept rent payment in a range of cryptocurrencies that initially include Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Litecoin (LTC), and five USD-pegged stablecoins (GUSD, USDC, USDP, DAI, and BUSD).
“In today’s world, customers want to pay for day-to-day items like food and rent in bitcoin or ethereum, and working with Jamestown lets them not only live life on crypto, but live and work in transformed spaces and innovation hubs across major cities,” said Stephen Pair, CEO of BitPay.
BitPay will serve as the intermediary exchange between Jamestown and its tenants for all aspects of the rent payment program. Jamestown will not receive or hold cryptocurrencies.
The program includes Jamestown’s real estate assets throughout the United States, representing approximately 26 million square feet, as well as plans to expand to the firm’s assets in Europe. Notable assets in the program include Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Ballston Exchange in Arlington, and Levi’s Plaza in San Francisco.
Jamestown also is connecting retail tenants with BitPay for an elective cryptocurrency payment services program to patrons, and exploring direct deposit programs in which its employees could opt to be paid partially in cryptocurrencies.
Jamestown’s Tech & Innovation Team builds strategic partnerships with innovative companies to deploy technology across its global portfolio. In addition to digital assets, Jamestown is focusing its tech investments in key growth areas, including health and wellness, big data, and property management automation. In 2020, Jamestown took the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop at One Times Square virtual with a custom app experience that reached 3.7 million people. In 2021, Jamestown partnered with Digital Currency Group to bring One Times Square to the Decentraland metaverse.
About Jamestown
Jamestown is a global, design-focused real estate investment and management firm with a 38-year track record and mission to create places that inspire. Since its founding in 1983, Jamestown has executed transactions in excess of $35 billion. As of March 31, 2022, Jamestown has assets under management of $13.2 billion and a portfolio spanning key markets throughout the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Jamestown employs more than 400 people worldwide with headquarters in Atlanta and Cologne, and offices in Amsterdam, Bogotá, Boston, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Current and previous projects include One Times Square and Chelsea Market in New York, Industry City in Brooklyn, Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, the Innovation and Design Building in Boston, and Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam.
For more information, visit www.jamestownlp.com.
About BitPay
Founded in 2011, BitPay celebrates its 10th birthday this year as one of the oldest cryptocurrency companies. As a pioneer in blockchain payment processing, the company’s mission is to transform how businesses and people send, receive, and store money. Its business solutions eliminate fraud chargebacks, reduce the cost of payment processing, and enable borderless payments in cryptocurrency, among other services. BitPay offers consumers a complete digital asset management solution that includes the BitPay Wallet and BitPay Prepaid Card, enabling them to turn digital assets into dollars for spending at tens of thousands of businesses. The company has offices in North America, Europe, and South America and has raised more than $70 million in funding from leading investment firms including Founders Fund, Index Ventures, Virgin Group, and Aquiline Technology Growth.
For more information visit bitpay.com.