Netflix Exec Suggests Streaming Video Giant Open to Bitcoin

The CFO of streaming video giant Netflix issued new comments on digital currency in a recent public Q&A.

AccessTimeIconJan 11, 2016 at 8:13 p.m. UTC
Updated Mar 6, 2023 at 3:06 p.m. UTC
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UPDATE (11th January 23:20 BST): This article has been updated with additional information.


Netflix CFO David Wells touched on the subject of bitcoin during a question-and-answer session at an investor event earlier this month.

Speaking at the 2016 Internet, Media and Telecommunications Conference, held on 6th and 7th January, Wells was asked about lessons Netflix learned amid problems launching payment services in Latin America.

Wells remarked that the company is still adjusting to those lessons today, as well as experiences from integrations in Europe. He said that the world of payments is in a state of evolution, and that bitcoin could be a solution to some of the issues it has faced.

Wells said:

“We'll see where we go from here in the next 10, 15 years from a payments perspective, because countries still want to hold on to their monetary policy. But [it] sure would be nice to have bitcoin, in terms of a global currency, that you could use globally.”

While Wells made no indication that Netflix is looking to integrate bitcoin, the comments are sure to spark speculation that that company is at least aware of the technology.

The event came after the announcement that the popular content streaming service would expand its area of service by 130 countries, a move revealed at the 2016 CES electronics conference.

A representative for Netflix declined to comment when reached.

Do you think Netflix will be the next online merchant to use bitcoin as a payment method? Share your thoughts below:

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