Accounting ‘Big Four’ PwC accepts bitcoin payment in Hong Kong
The firm says it plans to broaden acceptance of digital currencies for payments
PwC, one of the world’s big four accounting firms, said on Thursday it had accepted its first bitcoin payment for advisory services provided by the Hong Kong office. The announcement comes in the week when the virtual currency shot through the US$11,000 mark.
It is not immediately clear whether Hong Kong is the only branch within the PwC global network of offices that accepts bitcoin as payment. The firm said that apart from bitcoin, it would also accept other liquid, and established cryptocurrencies, especially from clients it advises in the broader crypto space.
For now, they include clients involved in token sales, crypto exchanges and launch of crypto funds.
“(This decision) is also an indication that bitcoin and other established cryptocurrencies have now developed into more broadly accepted forms of settlement,” said Raymund Chao, chairman of PwC Asia-Pacific in a statement on Thursday night.
A source closed to the firm said that with cryptocurrencies becoming more widely used, the firm was also prepared to consider requests from clients that do not participate in the digital currency sector.
PwC’s advisory work includes strategy consulting, technology advisory, risk management, governance and internal controls, taxation and accounting projects.