Millions of Americans will soon be able to buy, sell, and use bitcoin easily from their smartphones thanks to a new move from Walmart-backed fintech app OnePay.
According to reports from CNBC, OnePay will roll out bitcoin and ethereum trading and custody later this year. The service will be powered by digital assets infrastructure startup Zerohash, which helps fintech companies integrate digital asset services.
OnePay was founded in 2021 by Walmart and venture capital firm Ribbit Capital.
Since then, the app has expanded into a wide range of financial services. Today, it offers savings accounts, debit and credit cards, buy now–pay later (BNPL) loans, peer-to-peer payments, and even wireless phone plans.
By adding bitcoin services, OnePay is going head-to-head with established fintech names like PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App, which already allow bitcoin trading.
What sets Walmart’s app apart is its deep connection to Walmart’s retail empire. With 150 million Americans shopping at Walmart every week, OnePay has a bigger reach than its competitors. The app is already integrated into Walmart’s checkout systems in-store and online.
This means customers could convert their bitcoin into dollars and spend it at Walmart or use it to pay off balances on their OnePay credit cards without 3rd party services. CNBC reported that OnePay could be a very accessible way for everyday Americans to use bitcoin.
Analysts say this is not just about Bitcoin, but about OnePay becoming an American version of the so-called “super apps” popular in Asia.
China’s WeChat is the best example — an all-in-one platform that combines messaging, payments, banking, shopping and more. U.S. tech and fintech companies have long wanted to build something similar, but none have fully succeeded.
“OnePay has methodically added new products in its quest to become an American super app akin to overseas offerings like WeChat,” CNBC reported.
OnePay is off to a good start. It’s already #5 in the Apple App Store free finance apps, and ahead of JPMorgan Chase, Robinhood, and Chime. It seems like Bitcoin adoption has gotten the attention of Walmart, so this is the next logical step.
This reflects a bigger trend: Bitcoin adoption is accelerating in the U.S.
In recent months, big banks and fintechs have been rushing to add digital asset services as regulatory attitudes shift.
Since President Donald Trump was elected, government agencies have taken a more friendly stance towards Bitcoin. Big banks are getting into it, with Morgan Stanley planning to let retail clients access it through E-Trade.
Meanwhile, infrastructure providers like Zerohash are attracting big investment. The Chicago-based startup just raised $104 million, so it can power integrations.
As CNBC’s Hugh Son said on air, “The move means that crypto is increasingly seen as a core offering that exists alongside traditional banking services like savings accounts, credit cards, and wealth management.”
