Just this afternoon, BitPay, Bitcoin’s lead payment processor, signed on 3dcart as its newest merchant. 3dcart serves as an online shopping cart platform with the aim of fostering online merchant and business growth. Through 3dcart’s partnership with BitPay, 3dcart merchants are now able to install and configure BitPay directly from 3dcart Store Managers.

3dcart was founded in 1997 and serves as an ecommerce platform designed to assist e-store owners. As a fully scalable and customizable service that is a Visa PCI Certified provider, 3dcart provides free 24/7/365 customer support and now has a new edge of offering merchants an opportunity to embrace Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Magazine had an opportunity to interview 3dcart’s Founder & CEO, Gonzalo Gil.

Bitcoin Magazine: When did you first hear about Bitcoin?

3dcart: I always try to stay on top of the latest industry technology, so when Bitcoins were first being talked about in early 2009, I began to follow its evolution.

BM: What was it about Bitcoin that you found interesting?

3dcart: As the CEO of an ecommerce company, I see incredible potential in Bitcoins as a self-regulating, peer-to-peer digital currency. Also, the simple fact that Bitcoins can be transferred across the world without the need of an intermediate financial institution is one aspect I find very interesting.

BM: When did you first get the idea for your business and what inspired you to create your website?

3dcart: I started 3dcart in 1997 with little more than a few thousand dollars and an idea. Ecommerce, at that time, was still a relatively new concept, but I could see right away that it was an industry destined to explode in the near future. Knowing this, I created 3dcart and have done my best to grow the company into one of the most respected, and widely used, SaaS ecommerce solutions on the market.

BM: Were there any pre-existing businesses that inspired you to create your business?

3dcart: Ebay and Amazon were the big players in the industry in ’97, and they remain as such today. I’ve always admired their business model and commitment to the ecommerce industry, and I guess you can say both companies have inspired me in some way.

BM: Where do you see your business going in a year in light of your acceptance of Bitcoin?

3dcart: At 3dcart, we’re all about helping our merchants grow their business. If they’re successful, we’re successful.

With that in mind, I feel that by giving online merchants the option to accept Bitcoins as payment for goods and services will allow them to attract new shoppers looking to use Bitcoins to buy products online.

BM: What makes your product stand out in comparison to other products/businesses utilizing Bitcoin?

3dcart: 3dcart merchants have two options.

Merchants can get paid in USD if they do not want to manage Bitcoins themselves, and BitPay guarantees the exchange rate and manages the currency exchange when required.

Merchants can also opt to keep the Bitcoins they receive and manage them directly using a Bitcoin wallet.

By giving merchants the option, we aim to attract the masses, not just those familiar with Bitcoins/Bitcoin management.

BM: What are your suggestions for businesses hoping to embrace the Bitcoin currency like you have?

3dcart: Learn as much as you can about Bitcoins so you can make an informed decision on whether or not this technology is right for your business.