Today in Crypto: Blackhawk Network, LibertyX Debut Tool to Use Crypto at Retailers; US Lawmakers Take on Crypto Ransom Payments

Blackhawk Network and LibertyX will be working together to provide new opportunities for customers to purchase bitcoin in an effort to make crypto more accessible, the companies announced Tuesday (June 7).

LibertyX works on a retail network offering crypto purchase services, while Blackhawk has done work on adopting and expanding digital wallets, mobile apps and contactless payments.

This comes as there’s a still-growing demand for crypto, with customers needing more ways to buy or spend the digital assets at physical retail locations.

The update will see users able to use their LibertyX accounts to buy crypto at a number of merchants including Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarkets, Southeastern Grocers, Tops, Weis and Winn-Dixie.

Meanwhile, electronic trading company Citadel Securities is reportedly working on a new cryptocurrency trading ecosystem, which will help with adding more access to pools of liquidity for crypto, according to a CoinDesk report Tuesday.

This is reportedly being done with help from Virtu Financial and venture capital firms Sequoia Capital and Paradigm. A source said Citadel Securities is working on this venture because the current crypto market structure is “deficient” and prevents wider adoption from investors.

“It’s more of a crypto trading ecosystem or marketplace than an exchange,” the source said. “It’s going to take on the exchanges by building a better mousetrap.”

In other news, Binance.US unveiled a new staking platform Tuesday, which will let customers stake a wide selection of tokens and also generate an annual percentage yield (APY) of around 18%, which it said is the highest rate for any U.S. crypto firm.

It will also allow customers to automatically restake any rewards they get every week, which will help it have a high APY through compounding.

Staking refers to a popular way for crypto holders to grow funds without trading, with this being a “daunting” process independently, in particular for volatile markets. Binance.US aims to simplify this through a new user-friendly interface which it said will allow staking with “only a few clicks.”

See also: US Lawmakers Take on Crypto Ransom Payments