Bitcoin debit cards are a great way to unify disruptive technology and existing infrastructure. While the merchant won’t even notice you are paying in Bitcoin – they just see you use a Visa or Mastercard debit card – you will know and feel the difference on your bank account. One of the major up-and-coming companies in the Bitcoin debit card space is E-Coin, and they have released their Reseller and White Label Card API.
Also Read: E-Coin Gets Closer To Issuing Branded Bitcoin Debit Card
Disclosure: I own an E-Coin Bitcoin Debit Card and have used it three times until this very date. I have personally never experienced any issues with the card.
E-Coin: Bitcoin Debit Cards Available Right Now
One of the major gripes people have with most Bitcoin debit card providers is the waiting period. Even if you register an account right now, you probably still have to wait up to 6 months before receiving it. Most companies offer these cards as a beta service, which means there is only a certain number of debit cards going out every so often.
Waiting is not the case with E-Coin, however, as their Bitcoin debit cards are available right now. On average, your card will arrive on your doorstep in maximum two weeks after placing your order [depending on your location in the world]. Plus, with a small US$10 fee – to pay for the card itself – it is well worth the wait before you can try it out.
“At the moment the hassle and long waiting times users face when converting bitcoins into fiat are among the factors restraining further adoption of bitcoin. We decided to open up our platform, giving bitcoin companies API access, in an effort to improve this situation and contribute to developing the industry overall,” Georgy Sokolov, Co-Founder of E-Coin told Bitcoinist.
Two API Packages Available
At the time of publication, E-Coin offers two API packages to interested parties. On the one hand, there is the Reseller API package, which focuses on resellers and covers the basic functionality. But there is also the White Label API package, a comprehensive set of methods for complete seamless integration. Both packages allow businesses to offer E-Coin’s debit card to their customers and employees.
The Reseller API packages consist of three different E-Coin debit card API’s: Account.API, Card.API and User.API. There is one major difference with the White Label API package – which also includes the Payment.API – as that one will not only let you issue cards, but also get the balance and a list of transactions of every card ever issued by your company.
On top of that, issued E-Coin debit cards can also be locked and unlocked – in case of pending verification, a card going missing, et cetera and even replaced if necessary. Especially this last feature could prove to be invaluable for any business issuing these cards to their employees, as you might need to replace a few cards along the way.
“Seeing the interest in our E-Cards grow day by day, we decided to provide 3rd party services with the opportunity to benefit from our infrastructure. We hope to be able to make a contribution to further adoption of Bitcoin, which is in the interests of everyone in the industry,” Georgy Sokolov told Bitcoinist.
But these E-Coin API packages would not be complete without the proper developer documentation associated with every individual API. Furthermore, a sandbox environment for testing purposes is also part of the deal, as well as code samples in eight different programming languages [such as JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, and Curl]. Last but not least, an API issuing tracking system is also included.
The Signup Process
Getting access to one of the API packages offered by E-Coin is relatively simple. Sign up for an account on the E-Coin developer portal website, and obtain approval from the team. Once that step is completed, make sure to try out the API features in the sandbox developer environment, and feel free to ask any questions or suggestions you may have.
Once you have tested everything and decided to go ahead with your purchase, let the E-Coin team know, and they will take care of the rest. Do keep in mind these packages are intended for companies and developers expecting to process under US$300,000 via debit cards on a monthly basis. If you are planning to process a higher amount than that, contact the E-Coin team directly through their support page.
Source: Press Release via Email
All images courtesy of E-Coin