Bitnovo Hits Decade Milestone: 10 Years of Crypto Disruption

Crypto''s quiet pioneer just outlasted the hype cycle—twice.

When Bitnovo launched in 2015, Bitcoin was still a fringe experiment. Today, the platform stands as a rare survivor of crypto''s boom-bust cycles, having weathered everything from ICO mania to the 2022 nuclear winter.

From vending machines to Visa partnerships

The Spanish fintech started with physical crypto ATMs when most banks still considered blockchain a dirty word. Now it processes payments for merchants across Europe—proving crypto commerce can work despite Wall Street''s perpetual ''this changes everything'' sermons.

The real achievement? Not going FTX

Ten years without a major scandal puts Bitnovo in rarefied air. No billion-dollar hacks. No executive mugshots. Just steady growth while flashier rivals imploded chasing vaporware profits.

As traditional finance scrambles to tokenize everything from bonds to Beanie Babies, Bitnovo''s real innovation might be the simplest: staying solvent.

Bitnovo, a Spanish company that has spent the last decade making cryptocurrencies more accessible, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the launch of its new gift card mall—a feature that enables users to pay directly with crypto at brands like Carrefour, Cepsa, IKEA, Repsol, Atrapalo, and Smartbox, both in Spain and Italy.

Since its founding in 2015, Bitnovo has championed a clear vision: making cryptocurrency use accessible to everyone, without the need for expert knowledge. With this new tool, users can purchase gift cards and specialised products using their crypto directly—no need to convert to euros or hand over control of their assets to third parties. Everything is done from the user panel at Bitnovo.com.

“In a world full of platforms that still retain user funds, we remain committed to what matters most: self-custody,” says Javier Castro-Acuña, Head of Crypto & Web3 at Bitnovo.

The gift card mall allows purchases to be made in seconds from Bitnovo’s non-custodial wallet, with cashback available on select brands. There are no intermediaries, no fiat conversions, and no need to create external accounts. The platform is built for seasoned crypto users and newcomers alike, with a process designed to be clear, fast, and secure.

Current available brands include: 

• In Spain: Carrefour, Carrefour Gas Stations, Cepsa, Atrapalo, Smartbox
• In Italy: IKEA, Q8, Pam Panorama, IP, ideaShopping, Carrefour
• Globally: eSIM cards available for over 200 countries, including local, regional (Africa, North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Oceania, Middle East and North Africa), and global coverage in up to 138 countries.

Bitnovo was one of the first crypto companies to enable Bitcoin purchases with cash at physical stores. Today, it continues to break down barriers: users can buy the best crypto at locations like Carrefour or El Corte Inglés, or directly from their phone using Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit cards or bank transfers.

The launch of a marketplace is the natural next step—making crypto something everyone can easily use, without sacrificing control or security. Because the future isn’t built on promises, but on tools that make using your crypto simple.

A leader in Europe, it makes it easy to buy bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies with cash at over 40,000 physical locations. Additionally, it offers a self-custody wallet, the ability to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with credit or debit cards, and a B2B payment gateway that allows businesses across all sectors to accept cryptocurrencies quickly and securely.