Share this article
eBay CEO: We Are 'Actively Considering' Bitcoin Integration
eBay president John Donahoe indicated yesterday that integrating bitcoin with PayPal is a real possibility.
By Stan Higgins
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 10:45 a.m. Published May 14, 2014, 4:58 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
eBay CEO John Donahoe told shareholders at the annual meeting in San Jose, California, yesterday that the company is “actively considering” integrating bitcoin with PayPal.
When asked by a shareholder about bitcoin’s potential role in global trade, Donahoe responded by saying that the digital currency “will play a very important role in the future”, eCommerce Bytes reports.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
While Donahoe said he couldn’t envision exactly how bitcoin could become a more mainstream technology, he suggested that eBay is considering direct involvement with the digital currency, saying:
“Exactly how that plays out, and how we can best take advantage of it and enable it with PayPal, that's something we're actively considering. It's on our radar screen."
Evolving stance
This is not the first time that Donahoe has commented on the company’s interest in bitcoin. Last year, the eBay CEO stated that a bitcoin payment option may eventually be added to PayPal.
Yet the new statements are more positive than the ones made last year. In 2013, Donahoe said eBay was “kind of thinking about” integrating bitcoin, suggesting that the company was investigating the digital currency:
“I’ve been spending a lot of time looking at it and it’s truly fascinating. The way that the currency has been designed and the way inflation is built in to pay for miners and all of that is truly fascinating.
Interestingly, Donahoe’s latest comments were made on behalf of the company, rather than from a personal perspective. It remains to be seen how – and when – eBay approaches the topic of bitcoin integration in the near future.
Donahoe isn’t the only executive involved to voice his support for bitcoin. Last year, PayPal president David Marcus remarked that he is a fan of the digital currency and said that he, too, thinks a bitcoin option could one day be added.
Existing engagement
Despite not integrating bitcoin as a payment option, eBay has already seen some digital currency activity on its site.
In early April, the online marketplace added a “Virtual Currency” category. The section allows users to buy and sell digital currencies, mining hardware and mining contracts.
Notably, the company did not actively advertise the new category's addition, instead quietly modifying an existing section.
eBay has also moved to create a new digital currency payment system, which would include bitcoin as one of several options, according to a patent application filed by the company in December 2011. It is also developing a digital wallet designed to hold multiple types of currency.
Donahoe image via Wikipedia
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Here’s why bitcoin’s is failing its role as a 'safe haven' versus gold
Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash.
What to know:
- During recent geopolitical tensions, Bitcoin lost 6.6% of its value, while gold rose 8.6%, demonstrating bitcoin's vulnerability in times of market stress.
- Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash, contrary to its reputation as a stable digital asset.
- Gold remains the preferred hedge for short-term risks, while bitcoin is better suited for long-term monetary and geopolitical uncertainties that unfold over years.
Top Stories
