Around 170 payments in bitcoins, totaling around 1,600 euros, were recorded on Saturday at around 9.30pm. This was during the opening day of the “Gent Bitcoinstad” event in Ghent. 26 Ghent businesses are currently taking part in the operation, and accept bitcoin payments. Bitcoin is a digital currency that be transferred from person to person, without using a bank. With the help of the internet site “Bitkassa”, bitcoins can be converted into euros and transferred to the businesses bank account. They can then choose to convert the amount transferred into bitcoins.

During the opening day, around 170 transactions were recorded, for a turnover of around 1,600 euros. Only payments from participants using “Bitkassa” were taken into account.

Dozens of interested people visited the 26 businesses taking part on Saturday. The association behind the initiative hopes to attract more businesses so the system can grow.

At the end of September, a bitcoin distributer was set up in Ghent. It’s the first of its kind in Belgium.

Sarah Johansson (Source: Belga)