BitPay Offers Financial Services to RT Following Bank Account Freeze

BitPay CEO Tony Gallippi has offered ‘banking facilities’ to Russian state media outlet Russia Today (RT) after UK bank NatWest froze its accounts Monday.

Also read: Russia ‘Asset Exchange’ Sees Real Estate On Sale For Bitcoin

Gallippi To RT: ‘Learn To Use Bitcoin’

In an ongoing Twitter exchange involving RT presenter Max Keiser, himself a Bitcoin proponent, Gallippi suggested the broadcaster should download a Copay wallet as a solution.

@maxkeiser @RT_com @BitPay learn to use #bitcoin and download the #copay wallet https://t.co/dNeaCWpe6W

— Tony Gallippi (@TonyGallippi) October 17, 2016

The reactions are mounting UK bank NatWest’s decision. Owned by Royal Bank of Scotland, the institution suspend all facilities to RT on a seemingly permanent basis. A letter sent by the bank, which was since reproduced online, states no reason for the move. The shutdown is scheduled to take effect from December 12.

Bitcoin.com previously suggested the idea of using Bitcoin to circumvent the move, with many other commentators later following suit.

Bitcoin’s Complex Niche to Fill

RT has yet to comment on the proposals. Instead, RT has directed media activity at scorning NatWest. A statement described the decision as “incomprehensible” and coming “without warning.”

“It is however not at odds with the countless measures that have been undertaken in the UK and Europe over the last few years to ostracise, shout down, or downright impede the work of RT,” it added.

In a post on Twitter earlier today, Chief Editor Margarita Simonyan sarcastically wrote “Long live freedom of speech!”

??? ??????? ????? ? ????????. ??? ?????. '??????? ?????????? ?? ????????'. ?? ??????????? ??????? ?????!

— ????????? ???????? (@M_Simonyan) October 17, 2016

Gallippi also commented that the latest events “may finally get [Russia] to legalize [Bitcoin].” While the cryptocurrency is not officially illegal in Russia, pressure from authorities and official suggestions of a de facto ban have led many in the country to refrain from transacting.

Spectators will likely craft try to connect RBS’ to the weekend’s events in London. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had his internet connection cut at the Ecuadorean Embassy, where he resides.

Separately, Keiser has directly accused RBS of foul play in his capacity as an RT presenter on several occasions. Just last week, the host tweeted that the bank’s “business model” was to “slaughter their own business customers then sell the vital organs to a subsidiary – for resale at a huge profit.”

RBS business model: slaughter their own business customers then sell the vital organs to a subsidiary – for resale at a huge profit.

— Max Keiser (@maxkeiser) October 10, 2016

The prospects for the channel’s operations seemingly are not in doubt, with the statement adding that work would continue “uninterrupted.”

Bitcoin.com has reached out to BitPay for comment, but the company has not immediately responded.

What do you think about BitPay’s offer to RT? Let us know in the comments section below!

Cover image via Shutterstock.

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