VANCOUVER -- Bitcoin has made the leap from coffee to canines. The cryptocurrency, once the coin of choice for only geeks, is now being accepted by the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

However, Bitcoin will be only accepted for B.C. SPCA merchandise on its online store — such as pet food and supplies — so if you’re hoping to adopt a rescue pet, you’ll need more than a virtual wallet to pay the fees.

“This is just for online merchandise and from what I understand the B.C. SPCA is the first humane organization of its size to accept Bitcoin,” said B.C. SPCA spokeswoman Tricia Leslie. “We’ll see how it works with the online store first and move from there.”

Shortly after the B.C. SPCA’s announcement Thursday, it had its first order. It was a purchase worth more than $100 from Hungary, paid in Bitcoin through Bitpay, one of many Bitcoin exchanges that give buyers an option to choose that currency — a little like merchants offering PayPal for online buying.

Last fall, the world’s first Bitcoin ATM was installed in Vancouver in a Waves coffee shop, one of the first businesses in the city to start accepting the digital currency. Earlier this month, ClearlyContacts.ca became the first major Canadian ecommerce retailer to accept Bitcoin.

Abbotsford-based real estate developer Quantum Properties also accepts Bitcoin.

gshaw@vancouversun.com