Computer Giant Dell Now Accepts Bitcoin

Multinational computer technology specialist Dell has announced it is now accepting bitcoin through a partnership with Coinbase.

With annual revenue approaching $57bn, Dell is roughly four times the size of DISH Network – the previous biggest bitcoin-accepting business.

Following today's announcement, consumers and small business owners are able to purchase all items on Dell.com using bitcoin. To promote the news, the company is offering a 10% discount on all Alienware-brand products to bitcoin buyers. Dell also sells personal computers, servers, data storage devices, cameras and printers.

In a blog post on the announcement, Coinbase indicated that Dell is seeking to provide customers with greater payment flexibility. Once the decision to accept bitcoin was reached, the company moved quickly – implementing payments on the site in just two weeks. Dell Commerce Services CIO Paul Walsh said:

"It is always our goal to respond quickly to our customers and ensure their needs are met. Partnering with Coinbase to implement this solution in 14 days is a prime example of the new, more agile Dell."

The official announcement was released on Twitter by Dell's CEO and board of directors chairman Michael Dell.

Dell founded the company at 19 and quickly grew the business into a Fortune 500 company, becoming one of the youngest CEOs to make the list at the time. Dell is now the third largest private company in America.

Dell is now the world's largest ecommerce business to accept #bitcoin http://t.co/xC41rKTYXi http://t.co/0YqPK7MfVG — Michael Dell (@MichaelDell) July 18, 2014

As of today, Dell representatives confirmed the offer is only available to US customers.

Buying with Dell.com

Notably, the decision coincided with the launch of Dell.com/bitcoin, a dedicated portion of the company's website for bitcoin users.

The page features answers to frequently asked questions such as 'What is Bitcoin?', 'Why is Dell accepting bitcoin' and 'How do I obtain bitcoins?'

Additional questions centered on the security of bitcoin, with the company noting:

"There are thousands of computers ('miners') constantly running software to ensure the safety of the bitcoin network, which has never once been compromised."

Dell further released a 'Terms and Conditions' page detailing its policies for bitcoin buyers. The company noted that should a purchase qualify for a refund, "any refund due will be remitted to the purchaser via check in US Dollars for the full amount of the purchase price paid at the time of the original transaction, less any applicable restocking fee".

Refunds for mispayments will be sent to user Coinbase accounts. Those who aren't able to access a Coinbase account will not be able to receive a refund for missed payment, the company said.

Coinbase continues hot streak

Dell's announcement comes amid a boom in the number of major businesses that have opted to accept bitcoin through Coinbase. Notably, Dell is now the largest merchant in the bitcoin space by annual revenue.

Coinbase added the previous largest merchant to the bitcoin ecosystem in late May, when it announced that Colorado-based satellite TV provider DISH Network would add bitcoin payments. DISH has an annual revenue approaching $14bn per year.

The California-based company followed up this announcement by revealing that online travel booking giant Expedia and gift e-tailer 1-800-Flowers.com would accept bitcoin in June and July, respectively.

Publicity boost

Given the company's sizable annual revenue, word that Dell had joined the bitcoin ecosystem reverberated throughout the media, with notably publications such as PCWorld, the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times issuing stories on the company's announcement.

Reaction on reddit was similarly strong on reddit with a number of users reacting quickly to post the news to the popular bitcoin community forum r/bitcoin.

Enthusiasm was similarly high internationally with the move garnering coverage from The Netherland's De Telegraaf, among others.

Correction: A previous version of this article referred to Paul Walsh as Dell's CIO. Walsh is the CIO of Dell Commerce services, the company subsidiary that powers Dell.com.

Dell image via Hadrian / Shutterstock.com