Bluecode is currently in an advanced stage of integration into Nimiq Pay. Once this first phase of integration is completed, an initial version of Bluecode within Nimiq Pay will be released first, potentially enabling self-custodial NIM payments at Bluecode and Alipay+ acceptance points in Germany and Austria.
In order to prepare for the second phase of the Bluecode rollout in Nimiq Pay, we are working closely with Nimiq’s implementation partners to expand the acceptance network to up to 160 million merchants worldwide via Bluecode’s so-called “Payment Roaming” functionality. However, due to a significant technical complexity involved for all partners, it is currently not possible to provide an estimated release date for this milestone.
The partnership between Nimiq’s Cryptocity initiative and Nexi currently remains in a technical evaluation phase. The original plan envisioned integrating NAKA’s blockchain-based payment scheme into Nexi’s infrastructure, with the goal of enabling crypto payments on all existing Nexi terminals in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. However, since NAKA has been acquired and subsequently undergone a strategic realignment that includes withdrawing from the European market, this particular opportunity is no longer available. Discussions between NAKA and Nexi Switzerland are continuing, with Nimiq remaining involved as a facilitating partner.
Implementing traditional, QR-based crypto payments into Nexi’s existing terminal infrastructure would still place an unreasonable operational burden on both in-store staff and business owners. Together with Nexi, we continue to explore alternative, simpler and more scalable solutions to make crypto payments accessible to a broader base of Nexi merchants. Whether and when this joint initiative will come to fruition yet remains to be seen.