Adelaide Oval becomes first major Australian stadium to welcome cryptocurrency

In an Australian-first at a major stadium, the Adelaide Oval will now accept cryptocurrency as a means of payment with patrons now able to purchase food and drinks at the venue.

The initiative, made possible through the payment solution of Crypto. com, is supported by Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Crows and financial systems software firm DataMesh, which is supplying the payment technology and terminals.

Starting from the AFL's 'Gather Round' this weekend, various food and drink outlets within Adelaide Oval can now accept the cryptocurrency, with customers who wish to utilise cryptocurrency as a payment method able to select Crypto. com as their payment method at checkout.

This action generates a dynamic QR code on the merchant terminal which the customer can then scan using their Crypto. com App and authorise the payment in their preferred cryptocurrency type.

In celebration of this launch, there will be an $10 cashback on the first 1,000 transactions made during the 'Gather Round' event while additional promotions are expected throughout the 2024 AFL Premiership Season and Adelaide Crows home games.

Highlighting the growth of cryptocurrency adoption in Australia, Crypto. com General Manager - APAC, Karl Mohan stated “the payment technology we are introducing at Adelaide Oval is user-friendly and extremely scalable for both the merchant and customer. We see plenty of promise for future integrations like this.”

As a major sponsor of the Adelaide Crows and the AFL, Mohan expressed excitement at launching this trial during a highly active season.

Welcoming the partnership and noting that the club is constantly seeking ways to deliver new initiatives to its members and fans, Adelaide Crows Chief Executive, Tim Silvers stated "whether it’s membership offerings or, in this case, purchasing food and beverage on game day, we also want to give our supporters the opportunity to select what best suits them."

Describing their mission of dismantling the traditional payment barriers and propelling the potential use of digital currencies, DataMesh Chief Executive, Mark Nagy added “we enable smooth and ecure cryptocurrency transactions, unlocking a new frontier of payment acceptance." ‘

Nagy went on to point out that the innovative payment technology of DataMesh, smoothly integrated with Echidna POS, allows Crypto. com users to easily leverage their holdings for everyday purchases, thus marking a new era in crypto adoption.

This move follows the recent partnership between Crypto. com, DataMesh, and OTR, which resulted in the launch of Australia's first in-store cryptocurrency payments system in more than 440 Peregrines' retail outlets across Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.

The trial of Crypto. com Pay will continue throughout the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

Images: The Adelaide Oval (top) and Crypto. com General Manager - APAC, Karl Mohanw with Crows star Darcy Fogarty (below, credit James Elsby/Adelaide Football Club).