The rise of cryptocurrency payment platforms is becoming evident as systems integrate into major e-commerce platforms and retail stores. Stijn Paumen, CEO of the emerging crypto payments platform Helio, describes the sector as nascent yet promising. In a recent interview, Paumen discussed blockchain technologies’ challenges and opportunities in their quest to match and surpass the efficiency of traditional payment methods such as Apple Pay.

Bridging the Performance Gap

Founded in March 2022 by Paumen and Jim Walker, Helio has quickly positioned itself as a significant player in the crypto payment industry. Helio’s approach to overcoming the limitations of older blockchain technologies involves leveraging the capabilities of newer systems like Solana.

“Now with the second generation of blockchains like Solana, even though there’s a lot of talk about congestion, we actually have the engineering resources to figure it out.”

Despite issues like network congestion, Paumen believes their advanced engineering resources can resolve these problems, paving the way for a smoother user experience.

“I think the benchmark is Apple Pay. How are you going to beat Apple Pay, where I can just tap my phone and I’ve paid within three seconds,” Paumen explains

The platform supports established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum and integrates newer tokens and technologies. Their monthly transaction volume reportedly reaches $30 million, mainly serving the Web3 space. This is a testament to their growing influence and the increasing acceptance of crypto payments in various sectors.

User Experience at the Forefront

User experience remains a critical focus for Helio, as the platform aims to simplify cryptocurrency transactions to the point where they can compete with the immediacy and ease of Apple Pay. 

“We talk about this concept of crypto granny internally. What we mean is, when crypto granny buys a Bored Ape hoodie for her grandson, she needs to be able to do that without owning crypto, without even knowing what blockchain is,” Paumen added.

Further illustrating their commitment to accessibility, Helio has developed plugins for popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. These integrations facilitate seamless transactions using various cryptocurrencies and have even supported significant sales events, including selling Solana mobile phones.

Paumen is optimistic about integrating traditional payment systems and blockchain technologies. He suggests that even mainstream services like Apple Pay could eventually utilize the blockchain to settle transactions, combining the best of both worlds: speed, low fees, and decentralization.

“I think it’s just a really powerful technology. We’re still early. The fact that Visa is partnering with Solana is a great signal, though.” Paumen concluded

Moreover, Helio’s influence extends beyond typical e-commerce platforms. Paumen notes the potential for cryptocurrency payments to enhance service delivery in digital content platforms such as Vimeo and OnlyFans, suggesting that these areas are ripe for innovation in payment processing.

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