Roblox quickly debunked rumors that it would accept Ripple’s XRP cryptocurrency, clarifying that traditional payment methods remain in place.
In a digital landscape where rumors can flare up in the blink of an eye, Roblox recently found itself under the spotlight for an inaccurate claim. Social media was buzzing with news that the gaming platform would accept Ripple’s XRP cryptocurrency for payments, a claim that Roblox swiftly debunked. The rumor mill went into overdrive after BitPay, a payment processor, incorrectly announced that gamers could use XRP for payments in games like Roblox and Smite.
BitPay’s Innacurate Tweet
BitPay stirred the pot by tweeting that gamers could use XRP for payments in supported games, specifically naming Roblox and Smite in the post. Although BitPay later deleted the tweet, the damage was already done. Rumors circulated rapidly, misleading many into believing that Roblox had integrated XRP as a payment method. Even high-profile crypto investors chimed in, fanning the flames with speculations that a more favorable legal climate for XRP was on the horizon.
Bill Zielke, BitPay’s Chief Marketing Officer, later clarified the situation, stating that the tweet was incorrect. He assured that further information on merchants accepting cryptocurrencies would come out soon. However, by then, countless tweets and articles had already misrepresented Roblox’s stance on crypto payments, necessitating an official response from the company.
No Crypto Payments on Roblox
In the wake of these events, Roblox was quick to squash any such claims. The gaming platform emphasized that they do not support payments in any form of cryptocurrency, including XRP or Bitcoin. While it’s true that Xsolla, a payment provider, does offer services to Roblox, it does not include the option for cryptocurrency payments.
In an effort to provide clarity, Roblox confirmed that their available payment options for purchasing in-game currency, Robux, include only traditional methods. Gamers in the U.S. can make purchases through credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, PayPal, Venmo, Klarna, payments at CVS Pharmacy, and Paysafecard—a prepaid cash card. So, as far as Roblox is concerned, it’s business as usual, and cryptocurrencies remain outside the payment realm.
Adding another layer to the story, Xsolla also responded to inquiries, stating that they offer various payment options for developers across different platforms and BitPay is just one among them. For the record, Xsolla has been a payment provider for Roblox for credit card transactions and also rolled out a gift card solution for the platform back in 2020. They further clarified that they had no role in BitPay’s incorrect tweet and distanced themselves from the confusion.
This misinformation came quite shortly after the misinformation spread by CoinTelegraph that Bitcoin ETFs were approved. The false news led to a brief pump on the price of BTC, which led many to believe that it was pure market manipulation by the ones spreading the misinformation.Â