One of the top gripes within the cryptocurrency community is how difficult it is to explain bitcoin and the blockchain to family and friends. Now Apple, Samsung, and other tech giants could make that process a little easier by introducing their combined massive user base to crypto. Most recently, the iPhone maker has tipped its hand to potential plans of exploring the integration of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies into its Apple Pay app.

In the U.S. alone, Apple boasts more than 100 million users of its iPhone devices, and they already have a place at the financial services table with Apple Pay, suggesting they could do a great deal to bolster mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Apple Pay is reportedly exploring cryptocurrencies.

While Apple has not yet provided any concrete plans or details surrounding its possible bitcoin plans, it could be just a matter of time. According to Apple Pay Vice President Jennifer Bailey cited in CNN:

“We’re watching cryptocurrency. We think it’s interesting. We think it has interesting long-term potential.”

It’s a sea change for Apple’s tone on crypto, which up till now has been less sanguine. The company’s recent iPhone event was focused on the unveiling of the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, and many were hoping for some announcement on crypto plans. Jack Dorsey’s Square Crypto is seemingly awaiting some bitcoin announcement, tweeting today:

“Give us a bitcoin emoji” with the hashtag #AppleEvent.”

Source: Square Crypto on Twitter

The timing is ripe for crypto integration, as Apple needs a hail Mary now more than ever. It has come under pressure with Tim Cook failing to show enough innovation in the shadow of the great Steve Jobs, as evidenced by waning sales and meager adoption of wearable technology.

And while bitcoin could do a great deal to bolster Apple, the tech leader could also do a lot to foster crypto mainstream adoption. For instance, Apple Pay, which is available in more than two dozen countries, processed nearly 2 billion transactions in Q1 2019. Plus, the number of Apple Pay users is on the rise globally, as evidenced by nearly half of iPhone users having accessed mobile payments via Apple Pay.

The iPhone maker isn’t about to sit idly by while its chief rival, Samsung, wades into the crypto pool: Samsung is already making strides in cryptocurrencies. Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10 devices support bitcoin in the Blockchain Keystore (which incidentally has already added more than a dozen decentralized apps) across the UK region and half-a-dozen countries, giving users the ability to store bitcoin private keys on the devices. Samsung bills the service as being secure, as it relies on the same technology that it uses for payment transactions and bypasses storing private key data on the cloud. The Blockchain Keystore reportedly supports bitcoin, ETH, and Kakao’s klaytn coin.

Considering that these smartphone leaders appear to be focused on existing cryptocurrencies rather than launching their own native coins, they are likely to face fewer headwinds than Facebook, which is attempting to launch the Libra coin. Jack Dorsey seemingly has no plans to launch a Twitter or Square cryptocurrency and instead is focused on bitcoin development via Square Crypto. This approach taken by Samsung, Jack Dorsey, and potentially Apple appears to be the path that is likely to bolster crypto mainstream adoption rather than hinder it.