Dash, the cryptocurrency for payments and e-commerce, has announced the launch of Dash Text, a Venezuela-based company providing SMS-based transactions for Dash. T
his now provides a completely new way for users to acquire, store, and spend their Dash, while solving for one of the major barriers to entry in the cryptocurrency space — the need for a smartphone and access to the Internet. For the first time, anyone in Venezuela with any type of mobile device can become part of the Dash ecosystem, and can utilize Dash for everyday transactions. Dash Text is currently in public beta and can be accessed by Venezuelan citizens via a five-digit shortcode on Movistar and Digitel, two of the country’s major telecom companies.
Bradley Zastrow, Global Head of Business Development at Dash Core, said:
Venezuelans living abroad send an estimated $2 billion USD back home in remittances. This process often takes too long and costs too much, making it a huge pain point for many users. With Dash Text, we are providing real solutions that address real problems. People need easy and cheap ways to send money home, and we’ve done it in a way that expands the Dash ecosystem to those without smartphones! Dash Text offers the perfect solution to ensure that everyone can become part of the Dash family, regardless of what phone people own.
To register a mobile device, individuals need to send an SMS to the number 22625 with the word “DASH”, and then send the word “CREAR” to create a Dash wallet. After this is complete, the phone number will be eligible to send and receive Dash with the touch of a few buttons.
Lorenzo Rey, Director at Dash Text, commented:
We’re very excited to finally bring this service to the people of Venezuela. It will help thousands of people have more economic freedom, as we’re working together with all the different Dash initiatives in the country to spread the word and get Dash Text into the hands of the people who need it. Dash is the only cryptocurrency that can scale as a massive payment method in Venezuela at the moment — it is instant, safe, has cheap transactions, and offers an entire ecosystem of projects, solutions, and exchanges to support it, which is something other cryptocurrencies do not have.Users need easy-to-use solutions and easily reachable information, not a dark cloud of doubt. I can’t wait to watch people paying with Dash easily on feature phones without internet all around Venezuela — it’s coming!
The new support for Dash Text is made possible through Dash’s partnership with BlockCypher, which specializes in blockchain solutions and blockchain agnostic products. BlockCypher enables companies and users to integrate with multiple cryptocurrencies through one platform.
Karen Hsu, Chief Revenue Officer at BlockCypher, added:
We are delighted to see Dash Text so quickly use BlockCypher’s Dash APIs and infrastructure to integrate with the Dash network. Using Blockcypher, Dash Text is able to pay users who refer others to Dash Text. For a limited time, each Dash Text user will receive a bonus when a person they refer to Dash Text starts using the service.
The referral program will be launched through Dash Text over the next few weeks and announced through Dash Text’s social media channels.