Cryptocurrency adoption on a United Kingdom-based cost app is booming within the first quarter of 2021, however whether or not that development continues may depend upon the actions of Bitcoin (BTC) evangelists like Elon Musk, warns STICPAY director James Bay.

The cell funds app reported a 48% enhance in crypto deposits within the first quarter of the 12 months, whereas fiat deposits remained static. Bitcoin is seemingly the forex of selection for many of STICPAY’s e-wallet customers, with Bitcoin deposits eclipsing deposits of Ether (ETH), Tether (USDT) and Litecoin (LTC) 38 occasions over.

The agency additionally reported a 185% enhance within the variety of customers changing fiat to crypto through the pockets’s built-in forex converter, in comparison with the identical time final 12 months. This was accompanied by a 12% lower within the variety of customers swapping crypto again to fiat.

Shopper service director James Bay mentioned extra cryptocurrencies have been gaining reputations as potential shops of worth however mentioned Bitcoin was nonetheless on the forefront.

“Cryptocurrencies are more and more being accepted as a trusted retailer of financial worth. However now we have to say it’s Bitcoin that’s main the change in cost habits and outlook that’s difficult fiat currencies,” mentioned Bay.

“The swap to cryptocurrencies is shifting at breakneck velocity, however whether or not that development continues stays to be seen,” warned Bay, whose feedback come because the cryptocurrency market experiences a violent dip after months of fast development.

Bay thinks the continuation of the development may depend upon the actions of public figures equivalent to Elon Musk, whose influential tweets have been proven to spice up (or sink) the costs of whichever coin he mentions.

“Even immediately, high-profile Bitcoin evangelist Elon Musk introduced Tesla will not be accepting the forex citing environmental issues, all of which comes after March’s announcement that the enterprise would take cost in Bitcoin,” mentioned Bay, referencing Elon Musk’s sudden reversal on Tesla’s choice to permit Bitcoin as a cost technique for its electrical autos.

One other high-profile Bitcoin evangelist, MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor, introduced the acquisition of one other 271 BTC on Might 13, hours after Musk’s reversal on Bitcoin funds. The entire quantity of Bitcoin on MicroSTrategy’s stability sheet stands at 91,850 BTC, with varied quantities having been bought at completely different costs starting final 12 months.

In the meantime, over $1 billion {dollars} value of Bitcoin stays on Tesla’s stability sheet — a undeniable fact that has drawn criticism from business observers who see Musk’s willingness to revenue from a coin he deems environmentally hazardous as an indication of hypocrisy.