Apple Hiring Business Managers with Crypto Payments Exposure

“The Apple Wallets, Payments, and Commerce (WPC) team is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to lead Alternative Payments Partnerships”, according to a recently published job description by the tech giant.

“We are looking for a proven professional in global alternative and emerging payment solutions. We need your help forming partnership framework and commercial models, defining implementation paradigms, identifying key players and managing relationships with strategic alternative payment partners. This position will be responsible for the end to end business development, including screening partners, negotiating and closing commercial agreements and launching new programs”

Key Qualifications

The key qualifications require at least five years of experience working in alternative payment providers, such as digital wallets and crypto-assets. Candidates will be responsible for the end-to-end business development and launching of new programs related to FinTech products.

What does this mean?

Apple has been fishing around the crypto space for some time now. Previously implemented, Apple Pay users can directly buy Cardano (ADA) through an integration with Simplex, an Israeli-based provider of fiat to crypto.

In February, Gemini exchange announced support for Apple Pay, allowing its users to buy crypto through the integration. BitPay, a crypto payments company, rolled out a similar integration in the same month. Both announcements sparked further speculation that Apple would soon take a deeper dive into crypto.

Although, Apple has not clarified what its plan is with cryptocurrencies whatsoever. However, most payment giants that adopted crypto turn cryptocurrencies to fiat to allow payments for their global merchants, like PayPal —who recently declared “impressive performance” due to cryptocurrencies.

As per Apple’s statement:

The comments by Chandra were first made during a recent virtual conference in which he explained why the government should develop a proper regulatory framework for the industry as well as a better understanding on the government’s part.

“emerging financial technologies can reshape the way people live as new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences people once couldn’t have imagined — and now can’t imagine living without.”

After tech and financial giants have brought cryptocurrencies to light, speculations on what Apple intends to do with Cryptocurrencies have been largely discussed by the crypto community.

Is this part of larger trend?

Apple and Tesla are not the only giant firms in the US to show interest in cryptocurrencies. This year, leading payment service providers such as PayPal, MasterCard and Visa also ventured into cryptocurrencies by launching a new division. Wall Street firms have also been looking into cryptocurrencies to meet the increased demand for these assets by clients.

Despite the achievements the crypto market has made this year, the market crashed a couple of weeks ago, leading to nearly 50% of cryptocurrency value being wiped off the market. However, this has not deterred continued investment into the sector, with institutional buyers in particular leaning towards buying the dips.