Today in the Connected Economy: Stripe Signs Twitter As First Crypto Customer

Today in the connected economy, Stripe begins supporting cryptocurrency payments on its Connect platform, adding Twitter as its first customer.

Also, Snap partners with Disney World for an offer tied to the park’s 50th anniversary, and smart kitchen technology platform Fresco raised $20 million in a funding round led by a trio of international appliance brands.

Stripe Rolls out Crypto Payment Capabilities, Signs Twitter on as First User

Payments processor Stripe has added support for cryptocurrency payments on its Stripe Connect platform, with Twitter signing on as its inaugural customer.

For now, payments will be made in Circle’s USD Coin, the second-largest dollar-pegged stablecoin, with support for other cryptocurrencies soon to follow, Stripe CEO John Collison wrote on Twitter.

Stripe Crypto Product Manager Karan Sharma said on the company’s blog that the product is aimed at “creators, freelancers, sellers and solopreneurs,” adding that while “it’s easier than ever before to find customers and fans, getting paid can still be difficult, especially outside of major markets.”

Snap Teams With Disney for 50th Anniversary Celebration

Snap is working with Disney to bring its augmented reality (AR) technology to Disney World as part of the resort’s 50th anniversary celebration.

In an announcement on the company website, Snap says it is working with Disney’s PhotoPass service to let guests “commemorate their visit by placing a digital memory on Cinderella Castle using Snap’s AR technology within the My Disney Experience app.”

By purchasing Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories through the My Disney Experience app, customers can add their Disney PhotoPass photos to the digital mural.

“Place a Disney PhotoPass photo onto Cinderella Castle in augmented reality, and, when guests look through their phones, they’ll see a mural of memories shared by fellow guests,” Snap said. “The best part is, they can also share the memory with friends and family, and return to it again when they visit Magic Kingdom Park.”

Smart Kitchen Platform Fresco Raises $20M as Consumers Seek Connected Convenience

Smart kitchen technology platform Fresco has raised $20 million in a Series B funding round led by three international appliance brands.

The company provides a system that brings smart technology to major brand appliances, powering step-by-step guidance for consumers with smart recipes.

“We know that every kitchen has appliances from different brands,” said Fresco co-founder and CEO Ben Harris in a statement.

“Now through this Fresco platform, our partners are forming alliances across the whole kitchen, enabling the promise of the smart kitchen. To our appliance partners, Fresco provides end-to-end solutions to make any appliance smart: firmware; IoT modules; cloud services; and apps that pull it all together. Combined with the Fresco app, our step-by-step smart recipes inspire and guide home cooks to perfect results.”