UPDATE: Burger King to start accepting bitcoins in Russia in 2017

(Adds comments from Yandex.Money in last two paragraphs)

MOSCOW, Jun 28 (PRIME) -- U.S. hamburger fast food chain Burger King will take payments in bitcoins in 2017 in Russia thanks to success of this cryptocurrency, the company said on Wednesday in a statement.

“The company will announce a winner of a tender to design software to accept bitcoins on August 10,” the statement read.

Burger King Russia’s General Director Dmitry Medovy said, “Tax issues, rather than integration, constitute the main difficulty…Payments in cryptocurrency is our nearest future.”

Created in 2009, the bitcoin can be used for financial operations, including purchases of online goods and services. Its circulation is not regulated in Russia yet.

Local online payment service Yandex.Money is ready to handle payments in cryptocurrencies when their status is legalized in the country.

“Today the bitcoin is a clear system of settlements, which does not differ from a local game currency, for example. As soon as the legal field and regulation parameters become clear, we’re ready to add the bitcoin to own payment methods,” a company spokesperson said.

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